W 


O 


THE  LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY   0!    CALIFORNIA 
LOS  A.NGELES 


OF  CALIF.  LIBRARY.  LOS  ANGELES 


i/^2. 


ONOTO    WATANNA 
\Fac-similr  of  author's  autograph  in  Jafanest.J 


THE. 


OF 

VM5TA1UA 


NEW 


LONDON 
DROTMl£R5 
MCMI1 


Copyright,  1902,  by  HARPER  &  BROTHERS. 


reserve*. 

Published  September,  1902. 


3»  t 


Of 
NWSTAR4A 


TJ 
2133793 


TWE. WOOING  of  \wsTARIA 


HEN  after  a  life  that  had  never 
lacked  variety  the  Lady  Wis- 
taria came  to  the  years  of  tran- 
quillity, she  was  wont  to  say, 
with  the  philosophy  that  follows 
dangerous  times :  "  No  one,  man 
or  maid,  ever  really  began  to 
live  before  the  time  to  which  the 
first  memory  reverts." 

The  first  recollection  of  the 
Lady  Wistaria  goes  back  to  an 
earlier  childhood  than  that  of 
most  mortals.  This  she  as- 
cribed to  its  terrible  and  awful 
import.  She  could  scarcely  do 
more  than  move  with  the  uncer- 
tain direction  of  babyhood,  when 


VJSTARlA 


her  father,  always  now  in  her  memory  as 
gaunt,  lean,  haggard,  tall,  had  taken  her  upon 
a  long  journey.  They  had  travelled  partly  by 
\  kurumaya,  and,  towards  the  end,  on  foot. 
That  is,  her  father  had  walked,  carrying  her 
on  high  in  his  arms. 

When  they  halted  at  Yedo  they  stood  amid 
a  vast  concourse  of  people,  who  remained 
silent  and  respectful  against  the  background 
of  the  buildings,  while  in  the  centre  of  the 
road  marched  steadily  and  pompously  a  great 
glittering  pageant. 

Wistaria  had  clapped  her  hands  with  glee 
and  delight  at  the  mass  of  color,  the  glimmer 
of  shield  and  breastplate,  the  prancing,  snort- 
ing horses.  But  her  father  suddenly  had  raised 
an  enormous  hand  and  in  a  moment  had 
stopped  her  delight.  Wistaria  lapsed  into  an 
acute  silence. 

Instantly  she  was  awakened  from  her  pain- 
ful apathy  by  her  father,  who  moved  her  high- 
er in  his  arms,  and  turned  her  head  slowly 
about  with  one  hand,  while  with  the  other  he 
pointed  to  a  shining  personage  reclining  in 
a  palanquin  borne  high  on  the  shoulders  of 
ten  stout-legged  attendants. 

"My  daughter,"  said  her  father's  hollow 
I  voice  in  her  ear,  "yonder  rides  the  man  who 
killed  your  mother.  It  is  through  his  crime 
that  you  are  orphaned  and  have  no  mother 
to  care  for  you  and  love  you.  Look  at  him 
well!  Hush!  Do  not  weep  or  shake  with 


TME.VOPJISG  OF  VJSTAPJA 

j-3 


fear,  but  turn  your  eyes  upon  him.  Look  at 
him !  Look !  Look !  Yonder  rides  your  moth- 
er's murderer.  Do  not  forget  his  face  as  long 
as  you  live.  It  is  your  duty  to  remember 

Whereupon  Wistaria,  who,  in  obedience 
to  her  father's  commands,  had  stared  with 
wide  eyes  fixedly  at  the  reclining  noble,  set 
up  a  most  extraordinary  cry.  It  was  un- 
like that  of  a  little  child  —  a  wild,  wailing 
shriek,  so  weird  and  piteous  that  the  by- 
standers started  in  horror  and  fear.  The 
noble  raised  himself  lazily  on  his  elbow,  star- 
ing across  the  heads  of  all,  until  his  eyes 
rested  upon  the  man  with  the  child  held  on 
high.  He  fell  back  with  an  uneasy  shrug 
of  the  shoulders. 

That  was  the  Lady  Wistaria's  oldest  mem- 
ory. There  were  others,  but  none  so  vivid  as 
this,  the  first  of  all.  Even  later,  when  she  had 
ceased  to  be  a  child,  she  had  been  unable  to 
pierce  the  mystery  of  her  father's  life,  or  in- 
deed her  own. 

One  half  of  her  earlier  years  had  been  spent 
in  a  small,  whitewashed  cottage,  built  on  the 
crest  of  a  little  wind-blown  hill,  far  enough  re- 
moved from  the  dwellings  in  the  village  below 
to  be  entirely  cut  off  from  them. 

There  was  a  touch  of  the  uncanny  and 
weird  about  the  little  village,  whose  slender 
streets,  ascending  and  descending,  zigzagging 
up  and  down,  disappeared  among  hillocks 


and  bluffs,  though  built  in  reality  in  the 
hollow  outskirts  of  a  flourishing  city  at  the 
foot  of  a  small  chain  of  mountains.  Though 
the  land  here  was  green  and  beautiful  at  all 
times  of  the  year,  there  came  no  one  from  the 
great  city  beyond  to  this  solitary  settlement, 
whose  inhabitants  bore  the  impress  of  toil, 
pain,  and  oppression. 

Why  her  father,  who,  she  had  been  told, 
was  of  noble  blood,  resided  here  on  this  hill- 
top, isolated  even  from  the  strange  people 
who  dwelt  in  the  silent  village  below,  the 
Lady  Wistaria  had  never  learned.  When 
she  had  questioned  her  uncle  and  aunt,  she 
had  been  frigidly  informed  that  curiosity  and 
inquisitiveness  were  degrading  traits,  which 
a  maiden  should  strive  with  all  her  strength 
to  overcome.  Neither  did  she  ask  her  father, 
who,  taciturn  and  cold  during  her  brief  resi- 
dence each  year  in  his  house,  gave  her  no 
opportunity  for  winning  his  confidence.  His 
love  Wistaria  had  never  dreamed  of  possess- 
ing. 

Nevertheless,  whenever  she  went  to  her 
father's  house,  a  wistful  longing  and  yearn- 
ing for  him  possessed  her  whole  being,  and 
when  she  departed  she  would  hide  her  face 
in  her  sleeve,  weeping  silently,  not  knowing 
why  she  should  weep,  and  scarcely  conscious 
of  the  fact  that  she  wept  for  lack  of  her  fa- 
ther's love. 

In  her  father's  house  there  were  no  servants, 


OF  VflSTAPJ  A 


no  maids,  no  attendants  —  only  one  weazened, 
blind,  and  infinitely  old  woman,  who  wept 
tears  from  her  sightless  eyes  upon  her  arrival, 
who  sang  and  crooned  to  her  at  night  in  a 
sobbing,  sighing  voice,  that  was  as  sweet  and 
pure  as  a  girl's. 

She  addressed  the  old  woman  as  "  Madame 
Mume,"  and  preserved  always  towards  her 
the  reserved  and  dignified  attitude  of  the 
mistress  to  the  maid.  Yet  her  father  ad- 
dressed her  as  "Mother."  Wistaria  knew 
the  old  woman  was  not  his  mother,  and  she 
could  not  believe  she  was  even  akin  to  them; 
for  had  she  not  always  been  taught  that  the 
family  from  which  she  was  descended  was 
one  of  the  oldest  and  noblest  in  Japan,  while 
old  Madame  Mume,  though  gentle  and  good, 
wore  the  garb  of  the  poor  heimin. 

The  other  half  of  her  childhood  had  been 
spent  at  the  home  of  her  uncle.  Here  were 
countless  retainers  and  servants,  besides  a 
host  of  samurai,  petty  vassals,  soldiers,  peas- 
ants, and  citizens,  who  lived  upon  his  land 
and  owed  their  direct  allegiance  to  him. 

The  garden  walls  surrounding  her  uncle's 
palace  were  tall  and  of  massive  structure, 
built  of  solid  stone.  Its  gates  were  guarded 
by  handsome,  bold  samurai  clad  in  thick 
armor.  The  steel  upon  their  breasts  and 
shoulders  glistened  with  a  sinister  sheen, 
and  beneath  their  blazing  helmets  fierce  eyes 
burned  out  their  unswerving  allegiance  and 

~  •  .  •  • 


VJ57APJA 


loyalty  to  their  lord  and  their  scorn  and  de- 
fiance of  all  his  enemies.  Their  coats,  all 
emblazoned  and  embroidered  with  golden 
dragons,  bore  two  crests,  that  of  the  Shogun 
lyesada,  and  that  of  the  powerful  Daimio 
under  whom  they  served,  the  Lord  of  Catzu, 
uncle  of  the  Lady  Wistaria. 

Here  in  her  uncle's  palace  Wistaria  was 
watched  over,  cared  for,  nurtured,  and  refined. 
Lackeys  and  servants  were  about  her  on 
all  sides,  ready  to  spring  to  her  service.  As 
a  child  she  had  attended  a  private  school, 
kept  by  an  old  samurai,  where  with  half  a 
dozen  other  little  girls  she  had  squatted  on 
small,  padded  mats  before  writing-tables  but 
twelve  inches  high,  and  had  been  taught  the 
intricacies  of  the  language.  Two  gorgeously 
liveried  attendants  always  accompanied  her 
to  and  from  the  school-house,  carrying  her 
books,  her  writing-box,  her  kneeling-cushion, 
and  her  little  table. 

When  she  grew  older  she  attended  the  ele- 
mentary school.  After  she  had  left  this,  a 
silent  woman  of  perfect  manners  and  ex- 
quisite appearance  had  come  to  her  uncle's 
palace  and  attached  herself  entirely  to  her. 
With  the  coming  of  this  governess,  Wistaria 
^  ceased  to  pay  her  annual  visits  to  her  father's 
house.  He  himself  came  to  the  palace  in- 
stead, once  every  year.  Upon  these  occa- 
sions Wistaria  was  brought  into  his  presence. 
He  would  put  a  few  stern  questions  to  her 


TttE  AtfoojNG  °^  WISTARIA 

&==&• — 3== =*= x 

concerning  her  knowledge  of  her  duty  to  her 
parents,  to  which  Wistaria  would  respond 
with  expressions  of  filial  submission  to  his 
will  in  all  things. 

From  the  governess,  Wistaria  learned  the 
elegancies  of  conversation  and  how  to  act  on 
meeting  great  personages  at  court.  She  had 
even  been  drilled  in  certain  graces  which 
should  not  fail  to  enchain  her  lover,  when 
he,  the  proper  one,  should  be  chosen  for  her. 

Now  that  she  had  reached  the  age  of  fifteen 
years,  this  perfect  person  had  departed  from 
the  palace  to  teach  maidens  of  younger  years. 
The  Lady  Wistaria  had  arrived  at  an  age 
when  she  could  be  said  to  have  been  graduated 
from  her  governess's  hands  as  competent  to 
pass  the  rest  of  her  life  without  further  in- 
struction, save  that  constant  restraint  exer- 
cised over  her  by  her  aunt,  the  Lady  Evening 
Glory  of  Catzu. 


HE  education  of  a  Japanese 
maid  is  not  alone  a  matter  of 
^  cultivating  the  mind;  it  is  an 
actual  moulding  of  her  whole 
character.  The  average  girl 
under  such  discipline  succumbs 
to  the  hereditary  instinct  of 
implicit  obedience  to  her  dic- 
tators, and  becomes  like  unto 
their  conception  of  what  she 
should  be.  But  the  Lady  Wis- 
taria was  not  an  average 
girl.  That  is  the  reason  her 
appearance  at  the  court  of 
the  Shogun  in  Yedo  created 
a  furore.  Her  fresh,  young 
beauty,  her  grace  and  bewitch- 


0 


8 


of*  WISTARIA 


ing  charm,  were  a  revelation  to  the  jaded 
court. 

The  Lady  Evening  Glory,  who  had  spent 
years  of  thought  and  preparation  for  this 
event,  had  warned  her  repeatedly  that  upon 
such  an  auspicious  occasion  she  was  to  tread 
across  the  vast  hall  with  downcast  eyes  and 
an  attitude  of  graceful  humility.  She  was 
on  no  account  to  look  about  her.  While 
all  eyes  might  gaze  upon  her,  she  must  see 
no  one.  And  this  is  how  the  Lady  Wistaria 
carried  out  her  instructions. 

When  first  she  began  the  slow  parade  tow- 
ards the  Shogun's  throne,  my  lady's  head 
was  drooped  in  the  correct  pose,  with  her 
eyes  modestly  downcast.  She  had  proceeded 
but  a  few  paces,  however,  when  she  was 
thrilled  by  the  intuition  that  the  spectacle 
was  worthy  of  any  sacrifice  necessary  to  see 
it.  Her  small  head  began  to  erect  itself. 
Her  eyes,  wide  open,  with  one  great  sweep 
viewed  the  splendor  of  the  picture — the  grace- 
ful courtiers,  the  lovely  women  in  their  cos- 
tumes of  the  sun.  A  sharp  pinch  upon  the 
arm  brought  her  back  to  the  exacting  presence 
of  the  Lady  Evening  Glory  beside  her.  Down 
drooped  her  head  again.  Gradually  the  eye- 
lids fluttered.  My  lady  peeped! 

There  was  a  low  murmur  throughout  the 
hall.  The  waving  of  fans  ceased  a  space. 
The  Lady  Evening  Glory  recognized  the 
significance  of  that  murmur,  and  then  the 


G  of  WJSTARIA 


hush  that  ensued.     A  tremendous  fluttering 
pride   arose   in   her   bosom.     Her   experience 
of  many  years  assured  her  that  her  niece's 
J    beauty  was  compelling  its  splendid  tribute. 

Then  the  Lady  Wistaria  was  presented  to 
the  Shogun.  Her  prostration  was  made  with 
inimitable  grace.  Her  beauty  and  charm  call- 
ed forth  words  of  praise  from  the  Shogun  him- 
self to  her  uncle. 

A  young  noble,  more  daring  and  ardent 
than  all  the  others,  separated  himself  from 
the  assembled  company,  and,  crossing  to  where 
the  Lady  Wistaria  stood,  kissed  a  hyacinth 
and  dropped  it  at  the  girl's  feet. 

The  Lady  Evening  Glory  could  have  shriek- 
ed aloud  with  fury  at  the  action  of  her  niece, 
due  solely  to  her  innocence.  She  had  no 
thought  whence  it  had  come.  A  flower  in 
her  path  was  not  something  she  could  tread 
upon,  or  even  pass  by.  There  in  the  centre 
of  the  gorgeous  hall  she  stooped  tenderly 
and  picked  up  the  pleading  flower. 

"  Wild  girl !"  cried  her  aunt,  in  a  suffocating 
whisper. 

Wistaria  started  with  a  little  cry  of  genuine 
dismay.  She  had  forgotten  in  one  moment 
the  instruction  of  years.  In  her  confusion  | 
she  stopped  short  in  her  progress  across  the 
hall.  As  if  impelled  by  some  great  subtle 
force  within  her,  helplessly  the  Lady  Wistaria 
raised  her  eyes.  They  gazed  immediately 
into  the  depths  of  another  pair,  afire  with  an 

i  v    i  jf  -i 

10 


awakening  passion.  The  next  moment  the 
young  girl  had  blushed,  red  as  the  tints  a 
masterful  sun  throws  to  coquetting  clouds 
at  sunset. 

All  the  journey  through,  to  their  temporary 
palace  in  Yedo,  her  aunt  abused  the  Lady 
Wistaria.  The  training  of  years  wasted! 
Ingratitude  was  the  basest  of  crimes!  Was 
this  the  way  she  repaid  her  aunt's  labor  and 
kindness?  Well,  back  to  Catzu  they  should 
go.  It  would  be  unsafe  to  remain  longer  in 
the  capital.  Certainly  her  niece  had  much 
to  learn  before  she  could  continue  in  Yedo 
longer  than  a  day. 

The  Lady  Wistaria  sat  back  in  her  palan- 
quin, pouting.  What,  to  be  taken  from  the 
gay  capital  one  day  after  arriving — before  she 
had  had  the  chance  to  meet  or  even  speak 
to  any  one!  Oh!  it  was  cruel,  and  she  the 
most  stupid  of  maidens  not  to  have  comported 
herself  correctly  at  her  presentation! 

"Dearest,  my  lady  aunt,"  said  she,  "pray 
\  you,  do  let  us  continue  in  the  capital  for  the 
season." 

"What!  and  be  laughed  at  by  the  whole 
court  for  our  shocking  and  magnificently 
bad  manners?  People  will  declare  that  you 
have  been  reared  in  the  fields  with  the  peas- 
ants." 

"Do  not,  I  beg,  blame  me  for  an  accident, 
dear,  my  honorable  aunt.  It  was  not,  in 
truth,  my  own  fault." 

31  .'J.  ^  i a— i 

ii 


\MSTAPJA 


"Indeed!" 

"Indeed,  I  do  assure  you  it  was  the  fault 
of  that  honorably  silly  flower/' 

"TSHH!" 

"And  of  that  magnificent  and  augustly 
handsome  courtier  who  dropped  it." 

"  Dropped  it  !  My  lady  niece,  '  I  saw  the 
impudent  fellow  throw  it  at  your  feet!" 

"What  I  You  saw!  Oh,  my  aunt,  then 
it  is  you  who  are  jointly  guilty  with  me!" 

"What  is  that?"  cried  the  aunt,  angrily. 

"Why,  my  lady,  your  honorable  eyes  were 
improper  also." 

The  Lady  Evening  Glory  turned  an  offended 
shoulder. 

"We  will  start  to-morrow  for  home." 

"Oh,  my  lady!" 

"I  have  spoken." 

"But,  dear  aunt—" 

"Will  you  condescend  to  tell  me,  girl,  who 
is  guardian,  thou  or  I?" 

With  the  Lady  Evening  Glory,  "  thou  "  was 
the  end  of  discussion. 

The  following  day,  therefore,  the  returning 
cortege  set  out  for  Catzu.  As  fortune  would 
have  it,  the  Lady  Evening  Glory  travelled 
in  her  own  train,  while  her  niece  had  also 
her  personal  retinue  about  her.  Consequently 
the  journey  was  joyous  for  the  Lady  Wistaria. 

When  first  the  cortege  began  to  move  through 
the  city  a  strange  little  procession  followed 
in  its  wake.  It  was  made  up  of  the  love- 

T.  .....     ..1  &-.          J  d= 

U  12 


WJSTARJA 


sick  suitors,  who,  having  but  once  gazed 
upon  the  beauty  of  the  Lady  Wistaria,  wished 
to  serve  and  follow  her  to  the  end  of  the  world. 
The  following  was  quite  large  when  the  cortege 
started.  A  number  dropped  off  as  they  reached 
the  city  limits,  then  gradually  the  hopeless 
and  disappointed  swains  with  drooping  heads 
turned  back  to  Yedo,  there  to  dream  of  the 
vision  of  a  day,  but  to  dream  hopelessly. 

Wherever  the  Lady  Wistaria's  personal  train 
travelled  there  lay  scattered  upon  the  ground, 
and  blowing  in  the  air  above  and  about  her, 
tiny  bits  of  white  or  delicately  tinted  and 
perfumed  paper.  They  were,  alas!  the  love- 
letters  and  poems  penned  by  the  ardent  lovers, 
which  the  hard-hearted  lady,  tearing  into 
infinitesimal  bits,  had  saucily  tossed  to  the 
winds.  It  was  thus  she  tossed  their  love 
from  her,  she  would  have  them  believe. 

Hopeless,  and  finally  indignant,  therefore, 
backward  turned  these  erstwhile  hopeful  suit- 
ors. 

Sir  Genji,  the  big  samurai,  who  had  especial 
charge  of  Wistaria's  train,  reported  to  her, 
with  a  smile  of  satisfaction,  that  she  would 
suffer  no  further  annoyance,  as  all  save  one 
of  her  suitors  had  finally  retreated.  j 

"Bring  closer  your  honorable  head,"  said 
the  lady  to  Genji,  who  strode  beside  her  nori- 
mono,  ever  and  anon  ordering  and  scolding 
the  runners. 

He  brought  his  ear  closer  to  the  girl's  lips. 


X 


13 


X 


tr 


She  leaned  over  and  whispered,  while  a  pale 
pink  flush  came,  fled,  and  grew  and  deepened 
again  in  her  face. 

"Tell  me,"  said  she,  "which  of  the  honor- 
ably bold  and  silly  cavaliers  is  it  that  re- 
mains?" 

"The  one,  my  lady,  who,  not  content  with 
despatching  his  love-letters  and  tokens  to  you 
by  underlings,  has  had  the  august  imperti- 
nence to  deliver  them  himself  in  person." 

"Yes  —  ye-es  —  of  course,"  said  Wistaria, 
blushing  deliciously,  "and  that  was  honor- 
ably right.  Do  you  not  think  so,  my  brave 
Genji?" 

"Perhaps/'  admitted  the  astute  samurai, 
frowning  at  the  same  time  upon  a  portion  of 
the  parade  belonging  to  the  Lady  Evening 
Glory.  Wistaria  laughed  with  infinite  relish. 

"Well,"  she  said,  "if  my  honorable  aunt 
or  august  uncle  were  to  learn  of  his  boldness, 
I  fear  me  they  would  command  that  the  cur- 
tains of  my  insignificant  norimon  be  drawn 
so  tightly  that  I  should  surely  suffocate." 

"Fear  not,"  said  Genji,  "I  shall  take  im- 
mediate measures  to  prevent  such  an  occur- 
rence, my  lady." 

Wistaria  pouted,  and  frowned  as  heavily     ^ 
•^     as  it  is  possible  for  bright  eyes  and  rosy  lips 
to  do.     She  toyed  with  her  fan,  opening  and 
closing  it  several  times. 

"  You  are  honorably  over-zealous,  Sir  Gen- 
ji," she  said. 

3L.  -JU  *-    ..  .     -A-  J~= 

14 


TOE  .WOOJNG  o/5  VQSTARJ  A 


«* 


"My  lady,"  he  replied,  "know  you  aught 
of  this  stranger?" 

"He  has  a  pretty  grace,"  said  Wistaria, 
"  and  the  bearing  of  one  of  noble  rank.  Have 
you  not  noted,  Sir  Genji,  the  beauty  and 
richness  of  his  magnificent  attire?" 

"I  have,  my  lady.  It  is  of  that  attire  I 
would  speak." 

"Do  so  at  once,  then." 

"  It  is  the  attire,  my  lady,  of  the  Mori  fam- 

iiy." 

"  The  Mori !  What !  Our  honorably  hostile 
neighbors?" 

"Exactly,"  said  Genji. 

"Oh,  dear!"  murmured  Wistaria,  as  she 
sank  back  in  her  cushions  in  troubled  thought. 
After  a  moment  her  little  black  head  again 
appeared. 

"Gen,"  she  cried,  "come  hither  once  more." 

"My  lady?" 

"  A  little  closer,  if  you  please.  So !  Know 
you  not,  Sir  Gen,  that  my  lady  aunt,  and 
indeed  also  my  own  august  father,  once 
served  this  odious  Mori  prince?" 

"I  have  heard  so,  my  lady." 

"Well,  then,  truly  all  of  the  members  of 
this  honorable  clan  cannot  be  augustly  bad!" 

Sir  Genji  could  not  restrain  a  smile. 

"Indeed,  my  lady,  this  Choshui  people 
have  many  worthy  and  admirable  qualities/' 

"You  are  a  very  clever  fellow,  my  dear 
Sir  Gen,"  said  Wistaria,  smiling  engagingly  L 


15 


TOE.M/OOjfSG  «r  WMJMJVI* 

..-*,. » -jar—- ^c  jy- IK TJ y-3 

now,  "  and  I  shall  bespeak  you  to  my  honora- 
ble uncle.  And  now — now — if  you  would  real- 
ly wish  to  serve  me,  do  you  pray  show  some 
kindness — some  little  insignificant  courtesy 
to  this  unfortunate  Mori  courtier.  Perhaps 
he  may  have  some  good  attributes." 

"Undoubtedly,  my  lady." 

"And  do  be  careful  to  allow  my  lady  aunt 
to  know  naught  concerning  him,  for  she, 
having  come  from  this  Mori,  is  actually  more 
sour  against  them  than  we,  you  and  I,  Sir 
Gen,  who  have  not  indeed." 

Just  then  my  lady  heard  a  familiar  tramp 
to  the  left  of  her  norimono.  There  were  but 
few  horses  in  the  cortege,  and  most  of  them 
had  gone  ahead  with  her  father's  samurai. 
Consequently  the  beat  of  a  horse's  hoofs  was 
plainly  to  be  heard.  The  Lady  Wistaria 
wavered  between  lying  back  in  her  carriage 
and  drawing  about  her  discreetly  the  curtains, 
or  sitting  up  and  feigning  indifference  to  the 
horseman. 

The  rider  had  fallen  into  a  slow  trot  behind 
her  norimono,  and  seemed  to  be  making  no 
effort  either  to  overtake  or  ride  beside  her. 
For  the  space  of  a  few  minutes  the  Lady  Wis- 
taria, with  a  bright,  expectant  red  spot  in 
either  cheek,  waited  for  some  sign  on  the 
part  of  the  rider.  His  stubborn  continuance 
in  the  background  at  first  thrilled,  then  irri- 
tated, and  finally  distracted  her.  My  lady 
put  her  shining  little  head  out  of  the  vehicle, 

=SC    -'      '1 *-         T  q 

16 


MBSTAR1A 

.Iftr-  - £  -4a 


then,  leaning  quite  far  out,  she  looked  back- 
ward. Instantly  the  rider  spurred  his  horse 
forward.  In  a  flash  his  hitherto  melancholy 
face  became  luminous  with  hope.  A  moment 
later  he  was  beside  the  lady's  norimono. 
Before  her  officious  maid  had  time  to  draw 
the  curtains  a  love-letter  had  fallen  into  my 
lady's  lap. 

It  was  possibly  the  fiftieth  appeal  he  had 
penned  to  her.  Hitherto  he  had  borne  the 
bitter  chagrin  of  seeing  the  torn  bits  of  paper 
fall  from  a  little  hand  that  parted  the  silken 
curtains  of  her  gilded  norimono  and  scattered 
them  to  the  winds. 

The  lover  rode  within  sight  of  his  mistress's 
palanquin  until  the  first  gray  darkness  of 
approaching  night  crept  like  an  immense 
cloud  over  the  heavens,  chasing  away  the 
enchanting  rosy  tints  that  the  departing  sun 
had  left  behind. 

Undaunted  by  the  fact  that  his  letter  re- 
ceived no  response,  encouraged  rather  by 
the  fact  that  it  had  not  shared. the  fate  of  its 
predecessors,  the  lover  now  set  himself  to  the 
task  of  composing  more  ardent  and  flowery 
epistles.  What  time  was  not  occupied  in 
eagerly  watching  for  the  smallest  glimpse  of 
the  little  head  to  appear  was  spent  in  writing 
to  her.  He  wrote  his  love-letters  and  poems 
with  a  shaking  hand  even  while  his  horse 
carried  him  onward.  He  wrote  them  by 
the  light  of  the  moon  when  the  train  halted 


17 


TflE 


for  the  night.  He  wrote  them  in  the  early 
dawn  before  the  cortege  had  awakened.  And 
he  delivered  them  at  all  hours,  whenever  he 
could  obtain  opportunity. 

Though  the  Lady  Wistaria  by  this  time 
must  have  acquired  a  goodly  quantity  of 
useless  literature,  she  took  no  measure  to 
relieve  herself  of  the  burdensome  baggage. 
Nevertheless  the  lover  began  to  despair.  A 
few  hours  before  they  reached  her  uncle's 
province  he  delivered  his  last  missive.  It 
was  really  a  very  desperate  letter.  At  the 
risk  of  his  life — so  he  wrote — he  would  follow 
^  her  not  only  to  her  uncle's  province  but  into 
the  very  grounds  surrounding  his  palace — 
into  the  palace  itself  if  necessary.  He  be- 
sought her  that  she  would  send  him  one  small 
word  of  favor. 

He  waited  in  impatient  excitement  for  a 
response  to  this  last  fervid  appeal.  He  felt 
sure  she  must  at  least  deign  to  express  her 
wish  in  the  matter.  But  when  they  reached 
the  province  he  saw  her  carried  across  the 
borders  without  having  given  him  one  sign 
or  token. 

In  his  despair  he  dismounted,  and  was 
divided  between  returning  to  Yedo  or  con- 
tinuing his  hopeless  quest. 

As  he  remained  plunged  in  his  gloomy 
reflections  and  uncertainty  of  purpose,  an 
enormous  samurai  touched  him  sharply  upon 
the  arm.  In  his  irritation  he  was  about  to 


18 


THE  .VJOOJNG  o/?  \W5TAPJA 
^ — • — ^r  4  -¥-       -jc= 

resent  the  fellow's  familiarity,  when  he  per- 
ceived a  little  roll  of  rice-paper  protruding 
from  his  sleeve.  Stealthily  the  samurai  reach- 
ed out  his  arm  to  the  lover.  The  latter  seized 
the  scroll  eagerly. 


/ 


S=3 
19 


VJSTARIA 


JL. 

3gr3 


HE  palace,  and  indeed  the 
whole  domain  of  the  Lord  Cat- 
zu,  presented  the  appearance 
of  being  constantly  armed  as 
though  for  attack,  a  not  un- 
common thing  in  the  latter 
days  of  feudalism.  The  Sho- 
gun  had  been  artful  in  his 
disposal  of  the  various  lords 
of  the  provinces.  Families  at- 
tached personally  to  him  were 
stationed  in  provinces  lying  be- 
tween those  administered  by 
families  friendly  to  the  Em- 
peror. Thus  none  of  the  Em- 
peror's friends  could  meet  to 
revolt  against  the  Shogun. 

i,          •*.          x= — $r- — 

20 


x: 


So  it  happened  that  while  the  Lord  Catzu 
was  one  of  the  most  intimate  and  confidential 
of  the  advisers  of  the  Shogun,  his  neighbor, 
the  old  Prince  Mori,  Daimio  of  the  province 
of  Choshui,  desired  to  see  the  Mikado  once 
more,  the  real,  instead  of  the  nominal,  ruler 
of  Japan. 

Consequently  the  two  neighboring  clans, 
while  displaying  extravagant  courtesy  tow- 
ards each  other  in  public,  were  in  reality  un- 
friendly. Only  during  that  portion  of  the 
year  when  the  Shogun 's  edict  ordered  a  Yedo 
residence  for  all  daimios,  did  the  lords  of  the 
provinces  meet  one  another,  and  that  under 
the  Shogun's  eyes  in  his  Yedo  seat  of  govern- 
ment. In  the  capital  they  simulated  suavity 
and  cordiality,  but  once  back  at  their  pro- 
vincial capitals  they  preserved  towards  each 
other  an  attitude  of  polite  defiance  which 
made  all  intercourse  between  them  impossible 
save  that  of  the  sword,  when  their  respective 
samurai  and  vassals,  coming  in  contact  with 
one  another,  fought  out  their  lords'  political 
differences. 

Imbittering  still  more  the  feeling  existing 
naturally  between  the  Mori  and  Catzu  clans, 
there  was  a  personal  element  in  the  situation.  ? 
When  Catzu  had  first  been  made  lord  of  the 
province  he  had  met  on  a  visit  to  the  Shogun's 
Yedo  court  the  Lady  Evening  Glory,  whose 
brother  and  guardian  (she  being  an  orphan) 
was  a  young  samurai  in  the  service  of  the  {,, 

j- — — i          »          t    — ar — 

21 


THE  -WOOJNG  OF  vnsTARJ  A 


Prince  Mori.  Having  fallen  a  victim  to  the 
lady's  beauty  and  charms,  the  lord  of  Catzu 
was  determined  to  have  her  for  wife  despite 
the  opposition  of  the  Mori  Prince.  Bold, 
brave,  fearless,  and  with  a  grand  contempt 
for  the  power  of  his  rival,  the  Lord  Catzu  had 
carried  off  the  fair  lady  from  his  neighbor's 
dominions,  though  it  was  generally  under- 
stood that  both  the  lady  herself  and  her 
samurai  brother  lent  their  assistance  to  the 
young  lord.  The  young  samurai,  incurring 
thereby  the  deep  displeasure  and  enmity  of 
his  Prince,  was  deprived  of  his  title  and  es- 
tates and  sent  into  exile  upon  the  first  con- 
venient pretext.  Strange  tales  told  without 
shadow  of  authority  diversified  the  nature  of 
the  crime  for  which  the  samurai  had  been  ex- 
iled, but  the  two  lords  remained  silent.  All 
who  had  been  concerned  in  the  affair  were  com- 
manded to  the  same  silence  by  the  Shogun. 

Whatever  were  the  many  reasons  responsi- 
ble for  the  constant  attitude  of  antagonism 
of  these  two  clans  towards  each  other,  the 
lords  carefully  guarded  their  lands  —  more 
particularly  those  in  the  vicinity  of  their  pal- 
aces —  with  all  the  rigor  of  a  fortress  prepared 
for  the  fiercest  onslaught.  Seemingly  un- 
approachable and  impenetrable  as  were  the 
grounds  of  the  Catzu  palace,  yet  there  must 
have  existed  at  some  spot  in  their  watchful 
walls  a  vulnerable  point,  the  heel  of  the  stone 
Achilles. 

--  a         •"          I  .      =SE-  r-      .-       .f  - 

22 


Gor  VflSTAPJA 

-y x: 


A  courtier,  by  his  dress  and  demeanor  plain- 
ly a  member  of  the  Mori  household,  lingered 
in  the  private  gardens  of  the  palace.  The 
day  had  long  since  folded  its  wings  of  light, 
but  an  early  March  moon  was  enveloping  the 
land  in  an  ethereal  glow.  The  courtier  re- 
mained under  the  friendly  shadow  of  a  grove 
of  pine-trees.  His  eyes  were  cast  upon  the 
stately  Catzu  shiro  (palace).  It  seemed  as 
though  the  moon-rays  had  singled  out  the 
graceful  old  castle  and  was  bathing  it  ten- 
derly in  a  halo  of  soft  light. 

It  was  cold,  not  bitterly  so,  but  sharply 
chill,  as  it  is  at  night  betwixt  the  winter  and 
the  spring.  But  unconscious  of  the  chill, 
erect  and  graceful,  the  courtier  leaned  against 
a  tree-trunk,  his  arms  crossed  over  his  breast, 
his  eyes  full  of  moist  sentiment,  drinking  in 
the  beauty  of  the  night  scene,  which  had  an 
added  enchantment  for  him,  a  man  in  love. 

All  about  him,  before,  behind,  and  around 
him,  graceful  pine-trees  raised  their  slender, 
pointed  heads  up  to  the  silver  light.  In  the 
distance,  like  a  strange,  white  mirage  set 
in  the  moonlit  sky,  a  snow-capped  mountain 
seemed  hung  as  in  mid-air.  The  grass  be- 
neath his  feet  was  young  and  intensely  soft, 
^  with  dewy  moisture  upon  it. 

A  nightingale  on  the  tip  of  a  tall  bamboo 
sang  with  such  passionate  sweetness  that 
it  brought  the  lover  out  from  the  shelter  of 
the  shadow.  Quivering  with  emotion,  his 

23 


soul  responding  and  vibrating  to  the  song 
of  love,  he  strode  into  the  light  of  the  moon. 
Unmindful  of  the  danger  of  his  exposure  to 
possible  observation,  he  drew  forth  from  the 
bosom  of  his  haori  a  little  roll  of  rice-paper. 
Once  more  he  read  it  through,  and  yet  once 
again. 

"  MY  LORD, — I  write  this  augustly  insignificant 
letter  to  you,  trusting  that  your  health  is  good. 
Also  the  health  of  all  your  honorable  relatives  and 
ancestors. 

"  I  have  received  your  most  honorably  magnif- 
icent compliments.  Accept  my  humblest  thanks. 

"  Now  I  deign  to  write  unto  you,  beseeching 
you  to  abandon  so  foolhardy  a  purpose  as  to  fol- 
low me  to  my  uncle's  home.  I  would  feign  warn 
you  that  my  uncle's  guards  are  fierce  and  ofttimes 
cruel,  and  to  one  wearing  the  garb  of  a  hostile  clan, 
I  fear  they  would  show  no  mercy.  Therefore  I 
beseech  you,  do  you  pray  abandon  your  honorable 
purpose. 

"  Also  condescend  to  permit  me  to  add,  that  if 
you  must  indeed  truly  attempt  so  hazardous  an  un- 
dertaking, I  would  beg  to  inform  you,  that  though 
the  grounds  are  surrounded  by  such  great  walls 
that  I  fear  me  not  even  a  tailless  cat  might  climb 
them,  and  also  the  gates  are  guarded  by  the  fiercest 
samurai,  nevertheless,  on  the  south  there  is  a  small 
river.  Mayhap  you  will  hire  a  boat.  Then  do  you 
*  come  up  this  honorable  river,  keeping  close  to  the 
shore,  and  I  do  assure  you  that  you  will  discover  a 
break  in  the  south  wall,  which  leads  into  the  gar- 
dens surrounding  the  palace. 

"  My  lord,  my  uncle's  guards  are  not  so  vigilant 

=3=1 LI =3k  1= 

24 


ft    f^S  .WQ01ISG  OF  VflSTAR)  A     n 

"  ~  " 


before  sunrise,  as  I  myself  have  ofttimes  remarked 
when  I  have  arisen  early  of  a  morning  and  have 
looked  from  my  casement,  which  is  also  on  the  south 
side  of  the  palace,  facing  the  river  and  the  outlet 
thereto." 

The  nightingale  paused  in  its  song,  and 
then  broke  out  again,  its  long,  piercing  trill 
filling  the  night. 

The  lover  returned  to  the  shelter  of  the 
pine  grove,  and,  throwing  himself  upon  the 
grass,  drew  his  cape  close  about  him.  Lean- 
ing his  head  upon  his  hand,  he  gave  himself 
up  to  his  dreams. 


T»E -WOOING 


NttSTARtA 

^        -x= 


HE  Lady  Wistaria  arose  with 
the  sun.  Without  waiting  to 
pin  back  the  long,  silken  hair 
which  hung  like  a  cloud  of 
lacquer  about  her,  she  stole 
softly  to  the  casement  of  her 
chamber. 

The  perfume  which  stole  up 
to  her  was  sweeter  and  stronger 
far  than  that  wafted  from  the 
trees  laden  with  the  dews  of 
the  early  morning.  Yet  the 
trees  were  bare  of  blossoms  and 
would  not  bloom  for  a  month 
to  come.  Nevertheless  the  ledge 
of  Wistaria's  casement  was  piled 
with  the  living  spring  blossoms 


Rt- 


y 


26 


of  plum  and  cherry.  She  could  not  but  caress 
them  with  her  hands,  her  lips,  her  eyes,  her 
burning  cheeks.  With  little,  trembling  hands 
she  searched  among  them  and  found  what 
she  sought — a  scroll — a  narrow,  thin,  won- 
derful scroll,  long,  yet  only  a  few  inches  in 
width,  with  golden  borders  down  the  sides, 
and  the  faint,  exquisite  tracings  of  birds  and 
flowers  intertwined  among  the  words  that 
leaped  up  at  her  almost  as  though  they  had 
spoken.  It  was  a  poem  to  her — her  grace, 
beauty,  modesty,  loveliness,  its  theme: 

"  A  stately  shiro  was  her  home; 

In  royal  halls  she  shone  most  fair, 
From  tiny  feet  to  golden  comb, 
In  her  sweet  life  what  is  my  share? 

"Oh,  lovely  maid,  my  moon  thou  art ; 
0  Fuji  san,  thou  hast  my  heart!" 

There  were  many  other  verses,  but  the 
Lady  Wistaria  was  too  much  moved  to  have 
either  the  vision  or  the  mind  to  read  beyond 
the  first  stanza.  As  became  her  rank  and 
the  painful  tuition  of  years,  she  should  have 
pushed  very  deliberately  the  flowers  from  her 
sill  and  torn  the  scroll  into  ragged  pieces,  a 
chastisement  prescribed  by  every  etiquette  for 
the  temerity  of  a  presumptuous  lover. 

But  the  Lady  Wistaria  did  nothing  of  the 
sort.  She  gathered  the  flowers  tenderly  and 
took  them  in.  Then  she  came  back  to  the 

T~   ~     -JU       —IE-  I      a 


casement,  and,  leaning  far  out,  gazed  with 
piercing  wistfulness  out  into  the  little  garden 
below.  For  some  minutes  she  waited,  the 
patience  of  her  caste  fading  away  gradually 
into  that  of  the  impatience  of  her  sex. 

A  voice  beneath  her  casement !  She  leaned  U 
farther  over.  A  young  man's  eager,  glowing 
face  smiled  up  at  her  like  the  rising  sun. 
Again  the  Lady  Wistaria  forgot  the  training 
of  years.  Her  trembling  voice  floated  down 
to  him: 

"Pray  you  do  consider  the  perils  in  which 
you  place  yourself,"  she  implored. 

"1  would  pass  through  all  the  perils  of 
hell  so  I  might  reach  you  in  the  end/'  he 
fervidly  whispered  back. 

"Oh,  my  lord,  look  yonder!  See,  the  sun 
is  pushing  its  way  upward  above  the  moun- 
tains and  the  hill-tops.  Do  you  not  know  that 
soon  my  uncle's  guards  will  pass  this  way?" 

"Under  the  heavens  there  is  nothing  in 
all  this  wide  world  worthy  as  a  gift  for  you, 
dear  lady.  That  you  have  deigned  to  accept 
my  honorable  flowers  and  my  abominably 
constructed  poem  has  given  me  such  strength 
that  I  am  prepared  to  fight  a  whole  army  of 
guards.  Ay!  And  to  give  up  readily,  too, 
•|f  my  life." 

"And  if  you  love  me,"  she  replied,  "you 
will  guard  with  all  your  strength  that  life 
which  you  are  so  recklessly  exposing  to 
danger." 

^—  Tt -lr  ,   I  -«E 

28 


Q  of  ^J5TAPJA     n 


"Ah,  sweetest  lady,  can  it  be  true  then 
that  you  condescend  to  take  some  concern 
in  my  insignificant  existence?" 

She  made  no  response  other  than  to  pluck 
from  the  climbing  vine  about  her  casement 
one  little  half  -blown  leaf  and  drop  it  at  his 
feet. 

As  he  stooped  to  pick  up  the  leaf  a  form 
interposed  itself,  and  a  half-grown  man  looked 
him  steadily  in  the  face.  With  a  little  cry 
the  Lady  Wistaria  vanished  from  her  case- 
ment. 

Meanwhile  the  intruder,  instead  of  being 
the  aggressor,  was  defending  himself  against 
the  flashing  blade  of  the  infuriated  lover. 
Too  proud  to  call  for  aid,  the  youth  opposed 
to  the  lover  found  himself  outmatched  before 
the  skill  and  fire  of  the  other.  So  thinking 
caution  better  than  valor,  he  flung  his  sword 
at  the  feet  of  the  lover.  The  latter,  picking 
it  up  by  the  middle,  returned  it  to  his  opponent 
with  a  low  bow  of  utmost  grace.  Then  with 
n  one  hand  on  his  hip  and  the  other  holding 
his  sword,  he  addressed  the  youth. 

"Thy  name?" 

"Catzu  Toro.     And  thine?" 

"  Too  insignificant  to  be  spoken  before  one 
who  bears  so  great  a  name  as  thine,"  re- 
turned the  other,  bowing  with  satirical  grace. 

"How  is  that?"  cried  Catzu  Toro  —  "in- 
significant? What,  one  in  thy  garb  and 
with  thy  skill  of  swordsmanship?" 


29 


TOE 


The  victorious  one,  shrugging  his  shoulders 
imperceptibly,  again  bowed  with  a  smile  of 
disclaimer. 

"May  I  be  permitted,"  he  said,  "to  put 
one  question  to  you,  my  lord,  and  then  1  am 
perfectly  prepared  to  give  myself  up  to  your 
father's  guards,  though  not,  1  promise  you, 
without  a  struggle,  which  1  doubt  not  your 
vassals  will  long  remember."  And  he  blithely 
bent  the  blade  of  his  sword  with  his  two  hands. 

"Nay,  then,"  cried  the  youth,  impetuously, 
"You  do  me  injustice.  1  am  ready  to  swear 
protection  to  one  who  has  acted  so  bravely 
as  thou.  But  a  question  for  a  question,  is 
not  that  fair?" 

"Assuredly." 

"Very  well,  then.  You  serve  the  Prince 
of  Mori?" 

"In  a  very  humble  capacity,"  returned  the 
other,  guardedly. 

"In  what  capacity?"  inquired  the  young 
Toro,  quickly. 

"Ah,  that  is  two  questions,  and  you  have 
not  even  deigned  to  listen  to  my  one." 

"Speak,"  said  the  youth,  curbing  his  curi- 
osity and  impatience. 

"The  Lady  Wistaria  —  she  is  your  sister?"     | 

"My  cousin,"  answered  the  other,  briefly. 

"  Will  you  tell  me  how  it  is  possible  for  one 
unfortunately  attached  to  an  unfriendly  clan 
to  pay  court  to  your  cousin?" 

"Two    questions,    that!"    exclaimed  Toro, 


30 


TOE  .Wooj NO  OF  W1STAR) A     n 


promptly,  whereat  they  both  laughed,  their 
friendship  growing  in  proportion  to  their 
good-humor. 

"Now,"  said  Toro,  "1  will  answer  what- 
ever questions  you  may  put  to  me,  if  you  in 
return  will  only  satisfy  my  mind  concern- 
ing certain  matters  which  1  am  perishing  to 
know." 

"A  fair  exchange!     Good!" 

"Then,"  said  Toro,  unloosening  his  own 
cape  from  his  hips,  "pray  throw  this  about 
you,  for  1  fear  you  will  be  observed  by  my 
father's  samurai.  Even  my  presence,"  he 
added,  with  a  sigh,  "could  hardly  protect 
you,  for  1,  alas!  am  under  age." 

"Is  it  possible?"  said  the  stranger,  with 
such  affected  surprise  that  the  boy  flushed 
with  delight. 

"  Now,  my  lord  " — he  hesitated,  doubtful- 
ly, as  though  hoping  the  other  would  supply 
the  name — "now,  my  lord,  let  me  explain  to 
you  why  I  truly  sympathize  with  you  in  your 
love  for  one  who  must  seem  impossible." 

"Not  impossible,"  corrected  the  lover,  soft- 
ly, thinking  tenderly  of  the  Lady  Wistaria's 
fears  for  him. 

"I,  too,"  confessed  Toro,  "am  in  the  same 
plight." 

"What!"  cried  the  lover,  in  dismay;  "you 
also  adore  the  lady?" 

"No,"  replied  Toro,  shaking  his  head  with 
sad  melancholy;  "but  I  have  conceived  the  ^ 

C: —        1 =3fr  JD 3= 


Ttf  £  - 


n 


most  hopeless  attachment  for  a  lady  whom  I 
may  never  dream  of  winning." 

"Then  1  am  much  mistaken  in  you.  I 
thought,  my  lord,  that  you  were  not  only  a 
brave  man,  but  a  daring  knight." 

"But  you  cannot  conceive  of  the  extremity 
of  my  case,"  cried  the  youth,  piteously,  "for 
consider  :  the  lady  1  love  not  only  belongs  to 
our  rival  clan,  but  is  already  betrothed." 

"Well,  but  betrothals  have  been  broken  be- 
fore, my  lord,  and  the  days  of  romance  and  ad- 
venture are  not  altogether  dead  in  the  land." 

"Ah,  yes,  that  is  true,  but  my  rival  is  not 
only  more  powerful,  but  in  every  respect  more 
prepossessing  and  attractive." 

"Indeed?  Well,  all  this  interests  me  very 
much.  Still,  1  must  say,  my  lord,  that  though 
1  am  in  the  service  of  the  Mori,  1  have  not 
seen  the  knight  or  courtier  who  could  prove 
so  formidable  a  rival  to  you,  either  in  graces 
or  rank  —  for  are  you  not  the  son  of  the  great 
lord  of  this  province?" 

"And  has  not  our  neighboring  lord  a  son 
also?" 

"Wh  —  what!"  cried  the  stranger,  darting 
backward  as  though  the  youth  had  dealt 
him  a  sharp  and  unexpected  blow  ;  then  scan- 
ning the  other's  face  closely,  "You  do  not 
mean  —  the  Prince  —  ?" 

"  Yes  —  the  Prince  Keiki.  That  swaggering, 
bragging,  noisy  roustabout,  who  bears  so 
many  cognomens." 


32 


TOE  JK/OOJNG  op 


"Hum!"  said  the  other.  "They  call  him 
the  Prince  Kei — ,  truly — " 

"Yes,"  said  the  youth,  jealously,  "and  also 
'  Hikal  -  Keiki  -  no  -  Kimi '  (the  Shining  Prince 
Keiki)." 

"  You  have  told  me  strange  news  indeed," 
said  the  Mori  courtier.  "1  did  not  know  of 
the  betrothal  of  our  Prince.  It  is  very  sad, 
truly." 

"Sad!  To  be  betrothed  to  the  Princess 
Hollyhock  sad?" 

"For  you,  my  lord,"  replied  the  other,  with 
a  slight  smile. 

Toro  doubled  his  hands  spasmodically  as 
he  frowned  with  the  fierceness  of  a  samurai, 
that  the  other  might  not  observe  the  soft 
moisture  of  a  woman  in  his  eyes. 

"Now  let  me  tell  you  a  secret,"  said  the 
stranger,  touching  his  arm  with  confiden- 
tial sympathy.  "Upon  my  word,  the  Prin- 
cess Hollyhock  is  not  betrothed  to  the  Prince 
Keiki." 

"My  lord,  you  do  not  say  so!  Are  you 
sure?" 

"As  sure  as  1  am  that  1  am  here  now." 

"Oh,  the  gods  themselves  must  have  sent 
you  hither!"  cried  the  youth.  "Will  you 
not  accept  my  protection  and  constant  aid  in 
your  suit  for  my  cousin?" 

"You  are  more  generous  than — " 

"Your  Prince,  you  would  say,"  interrupted 
Toro,  bitterly. 

=a:    •     ~x.         &•         -£=: a 

33 


NWSTARfA 


"  —  than  the  gods,  1  was  about  to  remark/' 
said  the  other,  gravely.  "Now  let  us  form 
a  compact.  You  on  your  side  will  promise 
me  protection  and  aid  here  on  your  estates, 
and  I  will  swear  to  you  that  you  shall  win 
and  wed  the  Princess  Hollyhock." 

"I  have  a  small  house  yonder,  my  lord," 
cried  the  impulsive  youth,  excitedly.  "It  is 
kept  by  my  old  nurse.  Come  you  with  me 
thither.  I  shall  lend  you  whatever  clothes 
you  may  require  and  you  shall  remain  here 
as  long  as  you  wish.  I  will  introduce  you 
to  my  family  as  a  friend  —  a  student  from 
my  own  university  in  Kummommotta.  Then 
you  can  make  suit  to  Wistaria,  and,  having 
once  wed  her,  who  can  separate  you,  let  me 
ask?" 

"Not  the  gods  themselves,  I  swear!"  cried 
the  other. 

"And  your  name  —  what  shall  1  call  you?" 

The  courtier  hesitated  for  the  first  time. 

"My  name  is  insignificant.  It  is  a  Mori 
name,  and  therefore  dangerous  in  your  prov- 
ince." 

"You  must  assume  another,  then." 

"Hum!  Well,  what  would  you  suggest, 
my  lord?" 

"How  will  Shioshio  Shawtaro  do?" 

"Not  at  all.     It  has  a  trading  sound." 

"  Ho  !  ho  !     How  about  Taketomi  Tokioshi  ?" 

"Too  imperious." 

"Fujita  Gemba?" 


34 


TftE»WQPJNG  Of  \W5TARJA     ^ 

'ff.       .    '  "1%  3  .  -fr          .....fT" 

"No,  no." 

"Then  do  you  choose  yourself." 

"My  lord,  waiving  aside  all  our  political 
differences,  do  you  not  think  it  would  be 
loyal  for  me  to  take  the  name  of  one  of  my 
own  people?" 

"  What,  a  Mori  name?  You  are  very  droll, 
my  lord.  Why  not  keep  your  own  name, 
then?" 

"Ah,  but  it  is  not  the  Mori  family  name  I 
wish  to  assume,  but  a  surname." 

"It  might  be  dangerous." 

"Oh,  not  without  the  family  name  and 
title  attached.  Suppose  I  take  the  name  of 
Keiki?" 

"What!     The  name  of  my  rival!" 

"My  prince,  my  lord,"  said  the  other,  bow- 
ing deeply. 

"Nevertheless  my  rival." 

"Not  at  all;  and  if  he  were  so,  why  not 
grant  him  this  little  honor,  seeing  you  are 
to  worst  him  in  the  suit  for  the  lady?" 

"That  is  true." 

"  The  name  will  sound  vastly  different  with 
another  family  name  attached.  Suppose  I 
assume  the  name  of  Tominaga  Keiki?  That 
is  somewhat  different  from  Mori  Keiki,  is  it 
not?" 

"Somewhat." 

"Then  Keiki  is  my  name." 

"Kei—    Very  well.     Let  it  be  so." 


35 


HE  Lord  of  Catzu  received 
his  son's  friend  with  hospi- 
tality dictated  by  his  fat  and 
good  -  humored  nature,  beseech- 
ing him  to  consider  the  Catzu 
possessions  as  his  own.  Keiki 
(as  he  had  called  himself), 
on  fire  to  make  use  of  the  ad- 
vantage he  had  now  gained  at 
the  outset,  was  met  by  two 
4  unexpected  obstacles. 

In  the  first  place,  the  Lady 
Wistaria  was  hedged  about  by 
an  almost  insurmountable  wall 
of  etiquette  and  form.  Though 
the  lover  blessed  all  the  gods 
for  the  privilege  of  being  in 

rfc-  1          — £= 


ff 


TfiE  » 


her  presence  each  day,  yet,  impetuous,  warm- 
blooded, and  ardent,  he  could  not  but  chafe 
at  the  distance  and  the  silence  which  seemed 
impassable  between  them. 

Wistaria,  he  thought,  might  just  as  well 
have  been  a  twinkling  star  in  the  heavens 
above  him  as  to  be  placed  at  one  end  of  the 
guest-room,  her  lips  sealed  in  maidenly  silence, 
while  at  the  other  end,  in  the  place  of  honor, 
must  sit  he,  the  august  guest,  inwardly  the 
burning  lover.  Between  them  interposed  her 
honorable  relatives  and  certain  members  of 
her  uncle's  household,  separating  the  lovers 
with  their  extravagant  politeness  and  words 
of  gracious  compliment  and  hospitality. 

In  the  second  place,  the  pilot  upon  whom 
he  had  relied  for  safe  conduct  through  the 
icy  forms  which  kept  him  from  his  mistress 
had  deserted  him  perfidiously.  Toro,  the 
reckless  and  foolhardy,  his  imagination  fed 
by  the  daring  and  sang-froid  of  the  Mori 
clansman,  his  own  heart  aflame  with  as  deep 
a  passion  as  his  friend's,  had  borrowed  his 
dress  and  departed  for  Choshui,  there  to  risk 
all  chance  of  danger  with  the  bravery,  but 
without,  alas!  the  wit,  of  the  Mori  courtier. 

To  offset  these  two  hardships,  the  lovers 
saw  a  gift  sent  by  the  gods  in  the  indisposi- 
tion of  the  Lady  Evening  Glory.  After  the 
long  and  tedious  journey  from  the  capital,  the 
lady,  who  was  of  a  delicate  constitution,  re- 
tired to  her  apartments  with  a  malady  of  the 

3         -M.         ig-         r         a: — 

37 


NW5TAFUA 


head  and  tooth.  In  point  of  fact,  the  Lady 
Evening  Glory  suffered  from  neuralgia.  The 
lovers  prayed  that  her  illness  might  be  long 
and  lingering,  though  Wistaria,  having  be- 
sought her  to  keep  to  her  bed  as  long  as  pos- 
sible that  relapse  might  be  avoided,  tempered 
her  prayer  with  a  petition  to  her  favorite  god 
that  her  aunt's  illness  might  be  unattended 
with  pain. 

With  the  Lady  Evening  Glory,  the  vigilant 
mentor  of  Wistaria,  safely  out  of  the  way, 
the  girl  found  no  cause  for  despair.  This 
was  the  reason  she  returned  her  lover's  plead- 
ing and  ofttimes  reproachful  glances  with 
smiles,  which,  but  for  the  joy  of  seeing  them, 
he  would  have  thought  heartless.  The  joy  of 
Wistaria's  smile  almost  compensated  for  the 
pain  of  her  lover's  poignant  surmise  that  her 
heart  had  no  pity  for  the  woes  of  her  adorer. 

And,  indeed,  at  this  time  there  was  little 
else  in  the  girl's  heart  save  a  singing  joy, 
a  rippling  flutter  of  new  emotions  and  thrills, 
which  she,  too  innocent  as  yet  to  recognize 
their  full  import,  cared  only  to  welcome  with 
delight,  to  encourage,  to  foster  and  enjoy  to 
the  uttermost. 

Between  Wistaria  and  her  uncle  there  was 
utmost  confidence  and  love.  The  young  girl 
occupied  that  place  in  his  heart  which  would 
have  been  held  by  the  daughter  denied  him 
by  the  gods.  The  mantling  flush,  the  ever- 
shining  eyes,  now  bright  with  joy  that  would 

—  3  -  r>.         -sz-      *         r— 

38 


overflow,  now  moist  with  the  unbidden  tears 
that  spring  to  the  eyes  when  the  heart  is 
disturbed  with  an  emotion  more  sweet  than 
expression;  these  —  the  change  which  young 
love  alone  can  produce  in  a  maiden  —  he  was 
quick  to  perceive. 

The  Lord  Catzu's  own  marriage  had  been 
most  romantic,  and  if  his  lady  had  lived  down 
frigidly  to  the  world,  her  husband  at  least  had 
retained  his  sentimental  remembrance  of  the 
adventurous  escapades  attending  it. 

Such  were  the  opportunities  of  life  to  the 
daimio  of  a  province  at  peace  that,  to  all  out- 
ward appearances,  Catzu  was  too  indolent,  too 
listlessly,  luxuriously  lazy  and  preoccupied 
with  his  own  pleasures  to  observe  his  niece's 
condition  of  heart.  But  the  Lord  Catzu,  with 
all  his  placidity,  was  astute.  Beneath  his 
lazy  eyelids  his  own  small  eyes  missed  little 
that  passed  before  him. 

In  fact,  it  was  not  long  before  he  became 
aware  of  the  attachment  between  the  young 
people.  The  courtier,  he  knew,  bore  an  as- 
sumed name,  for  Toro  had  labored  with  awk- 
wardness when  he  endeavored  to  invent  a 
lineage  for  the  friend  whose  appearance  at 
the  Catzu  palace  without  the  customary  ret- 
inue of  servants  or  retainers  had  convinced 
its  lord  that  he  had  discovered  a  tinge  of  that 
delightful  mystery  which  but  added  to  the 
favor  of  the  unknown  in  the  eyes  of  the  sen- 
timental Lord  of  Catzu.  In  addition,  it  was 


39 


TflE  J 


the  mode  for  young  nobles  of  the  realm  to 
undertake  courtship  over  an  assumed  name, 
so  that  an  air  of  romance  might  be  lent  to 
their  love  affair.  As  to  the  young  man's 
rank  there  could  be  no  question,  since  his 
manners  and  breeding,  his  grace  of  person 
and  charm  of  speech,  were  caste  characteristic. 
Looking  secretly  with  high  favor  upon  the 
young  man,  Catzu  considered  how  he  might 
aid  the  lovers. 

Slothful  and  deliberate  in  all  he  undertook, 
Catzu  might  provoke  impatience,  but  his  grad- 
ual accomplishment  of  his  ends  was  gratify- 
ing. Just  as  he  took  his  time  in  the  serious 
business  of  life,  so  was  he  leisurely  in  the 
pursuit  of  his  pleasures.  As  a  consequence 
the  lovers  for  a  time  were  kept  in  an  agony 
of  waiting  and  suspense. 

Keiki,  maddened  and  irritated  by  the  con- 
stant presence  of  the  smiling  Lord  Catzu, 
who  in  his  opinion  stood  between  him  and 
his  heart's  desire,  once  more  fell  to  writing 
imploring  letters  and  poems  to  the  Lady 
Wistaria  which  made  up  in  epithets  of  en- 
dearment what  they  lacked  in  rhetoric.  He 
prayed  her  to  find  some  means  by  which  he 
might  be  with  her  alone,  if  only  for  a  frac- 
tion of  a  minute.  The  one  word  "Patience," 
written  upon  a  little  china  plate,  so  min- 
utely that  he  could  scarcely  decipher  it,  was 
the  reply  brought  by  the  Lord  Catzu,  with 
the  information  that  the  Lady  Wistaria  her-  L 

—  i  A  &  j  £ 

40 


TOE-WOOING 


self  had  painted  the  plate  for  their  august 
guest. 

Meanwhile  Catzu,  cognizant  of  every  sigh, 
every  appealing  expression,  every  significant 
motion,  laid  his  plans  carefully  for  the  im- 
patient suitor's  happiness.  Certainly  within 
the  walls  of  the  palace  itself  there  was  no 
hope  of  solitude  for  the  lovers.  Pretexts  for 
out-door  pleasure-parties  were  never  wanting 
in  the  warmer  season.  Local  f£tes,  the  birth  of 
each  new  flower,  family  events  —  all  these  were 
sufficient  invitation  in  themselves  for  such  con- 
vivial parties  as  delighted  the  soul  of  the  Lord 
of  Catzu,  and  could  not  have  failed  in  their 
chance  opportunity  for  dual  solitude. 

At  this  time  of  the  year,  alas!  there  was 
neither  snow  nor  moon  nor  flowers  to  serve 
a  pretext.  A  series  of  heavy  rainfalls,  most 
distressing  and  persistent,  was  the  only  fugi- 
tive before  approaching  spring.  Yet  even 
the  rain-gods  have  a  limit  to  their  tears,  and, 
after  all,  the  rains  preceding  the  first  month 
of  spring  are  ofttimes  the  very  means  by 
which  the  land  is  cleansed  ere  it  bursts  into 
beauty  and  bud. 

Not  so  interminable  as  it  seemed  to  them 
was  the  lovers'  waiting.  Three  short  days 
—  yet  how  long!  —  and  then  the  sun  which 
had  struggled  for  ascendency  over  the  troubled 
heavens  rose  up  proudly  triumphant.  The 
thunders  retreated  into  tremulous  growls  of 
defeat;  the  gray  -black  clouds  rolled  away 


41 


NttSTARtA 


before  the  blinding  flashes  of  the  sun  -rays, 
flitting  like  ghosts  before  the  dawn.  An  im- 
mense rainbow,  spanning  the  entire  heavens, 
sprang  out  of  the  skies,  a  signal  of  the  sun- 
god's  victory. 

What  mattered  it  that  the  land  was  barren 
as  yet  of  flowers?  The  grass  was  green  and 
the  trees  almost  bursting  in  effort  of  emulation. 
Catzu,  having  satisfied  himself  that  the  moist- 
ure on  the  grass  was  but  the  dew  of  spring, 
forthwith  devised  a  small  party.  It  consisted 
of  his  lady  niece  and  the  august  guest  of 
the  household,  who  was  graciously  entreated 
to  accompany  them,  and  who  accepted  with 
an  alacrity  almost  lacking  courtesy. 

With  but  two  attendants,  the  party  set  out 
from  the  palace.  Taking  a  small  boat,  they 
made  a  swift  pilgrimage  up  the  graceful  riv- 
er to  a  small  island  where  a  picturesque  tea- 
house and  gardens,  with  twenty  charming 
geishas,  made  a  fairyland  for  lovers. 

To  receive  so  early  and  unheralded  a  visit 
from  the  august  lord  of  the  province  threw 
the  geishas  into  a  delighted  panic  of  excite- 
ment. Their  attendants  were  seen  rushing 
hither  and  thither  throughout  the  place,  has- 
tily making  it  suitable  for  the  reception  of 
the  exalted  guests. 

Hastening  down  to  the  beach,  the  chief 
geisha  herself  apologized  for  the  island's 
condition.  The  Lord  of  Catzu  went  to  meet 
her.  For  his  guest  to  be  received  without 


*» 


42 


f 


preparation,  he  explained  to  Keiki,  would  be 
unfitting.  Consequently  he  begged  him  to 
remain  on  the  beach,  while  he  himself  pro- 
ceeded with  the  chief  geisha  to  the  tea-house 
to  issue  instructions. 

The  stolid  and  indifferent  lackeys  who 
had  attended  the  party  returned  to  the  boat, 
where  they  fell  into  conversation  with  the 
oarsmen. 

At  last  the  lovers  were  alone. 

For  a  long  moment  Keiki  and  Wistaria 
looked  into  each  other's  eyes.  They  were 
safe  from  all  observation,  for  the  gardens, 
and  indeed  the  whole  island,  was  of  that 
rock-and-pebble-built  variety  favored  by  the 
Japanese.  Behind  and  around  them  they 
were  screened  by  quaint,  grotesque  rocks  of 
natural  form  and  immense  size,  carried  from 
a  mountain  to  this  tiny  island,  placed  there 
in  miniature  to  simulate  nature. 

Nevertheless  Keiki,  the  impatient  and  ar- 
dent, now  at  the  crucial  moment,  had  naught 
to  say.  He  had  confessed  his  love  in  his 
letters;  she  had  admitted  tacitly  her  own. 
Still  they  did  not  embrace,  or  even  touch 
each  other.  Culture  is  strong  in  Japan, 
where  also  is  the  fire  of  love.  So  these  two 
but  looked  into  each  other's  faces,  all  their 
hearts'  eloquent  passion  in  their  eyes.  Wis- 
taria's eyes  did  not  fall  before  his  tender  gaze. 
Only  a  rose-red  flush  crept  softly  like  a  mag- 
ic glow  over  the  oval  of  her  cheeks,  tingeing  {* 


43 


her  little  chin  while  accentuating  her  brow's 
whiteness. 

Without  a  word  her  lover  dropped  upon 
one  knee,  lifted  the  long  sleeve  of  her  kimono, 
and  buried  his  face  within  its  fabric. 

Five  minutes  later,  hand  in  hand,  they 
were  standing  on  the  same  spot.  They  were 
watching  the  river,  swollen  by  recent  rains, 
as  it  burst  over  the  rocks  beyond,  bound- 
ing down  the  river-bed,  rolling  swiftly  along, 
twisting,  curving,  and  winding  about  the 
sinuous  form  of  the  island's  shore,  holding 
it  in  the  grudging  love  of  the  water  for  the 
land.  The  \vater  was  blue -green  in  color, 
save  where  the  sunbeams  reflected  its  own 
light  in  glistening  gleams  of  quicksilver, 
ever  moving,  ever  playing,  while  the  shores 
on  either  side  threw  shadows  of  their  trees 
and  rocks  upon  it.  As  it  ran  busily,  merrily 
along,  now  and  then  lapping  the  shore  and 
leaping  to  their  very  feet,  it  seemed  a  living 
thing  which  babbled  and  laughed  with  an 
inward  knowledge  of  their  joy,  and  also  sighed 
and  wailed  with  a  prophetic  undercurrent  of 
coming  woe. 

The  touch  of  their  hands  close  clasped  to- 
gether made  them  tremble  and  quiver.  Their 
eyes  met  to  droop  away  and  meet  again  in 
the  vivid  recognition  of  their  own  innocent 
happiness.  They  could  not  speak,  because 
their  hearts  had  laid  claim  to  their. lips  and 
sealed  them  in  a  golden  silence. 

c   • f.  '-.  ."3k-         X.         a^= 

u  44 


rs  «  f  »l~  «    rv «•    1W     — f  VvJ^i   |/\J*vjJ^ 

Then,  after  a  long  interval,  Keiki  found 
his  voice.  If  he  spoke  of  the  flowing  river 
at  their  feet,  it  was  not  the  river  itself  that 
absorbed  his  mind,  but  because  in  it,  as  in 
all  things  beautiful  in  life,  he  now;  saw  re- 
flected the  image  of  his  beloved. 

"  The  honorable  river,"  he  said,  "  flows  high 
at  this  season,  but  before  the  summer  dies  it 
will  be  but  a  thin  line,  very  still,  very  quiet." 

"  Yes,"  said  Wistaria,  tremulously,  "  but  the 
lotus  will  spring  up  in  its  honorable  waters, 
and  if  the  river  should  continue  to  rise  and 
rush  onward  like  this,  I  fear  me  the  water- 
flowers  would  perish  and  the  noise  of  its  cease- 
less flow  would  drown  the  voices  of  the  birds, 
which  make  the  summer  speak." 

"That  is  true,"  said  Keiki,  "but  when  the 
summer  passes  then  the  flowers  must  still  die, 
and  we  may  no  longer  hear  the  singing  of 
the  birds.  Then  still  the  river  will  be  silent 
and  motionless — perhaps  dead." 

Keiki  sighed  with  the  moodiness  of  love 
attained.  A  gentle  depression  stole  from  him 
to  the  Lady  Wistaria. 

"Alas!  my  lord,"  she  murmured;  "it  is  so 
with  all  things  in  life  that  are  beautiful. 
They  vanish  and  die  like  the  flowers  of  sum- 
<*)  mer." 

"Then,"  said  Keiki,  "swear  by  the  god 
of  the  sea,  by  whose  waters  we  now  stand, 
that  our  love  shall  never  die,  and  that  for 
the  time  of  this  life,  and  the  next,  and  as 

"•      ff      '         JL  *fc--  £  iT""= 

45 


„  VflSTAFUA     n 

— -5K ?fe 3- 3te « <s 


many  after  as  may  come,  you  will  be  my 
flower  wife,  and  take  me  for  your  husband/' 
"By  all  the  eight  million  gods  of  heaven, 
and  by  the  god  of  the  sea,  I  swear/'  said 
Wistaria. 


— j*^.*. 

46 


TfiE 


NttSTARJA 

^          -XI 


n 


HE  air  was  balmy,  the  sky 
of  a  cerulean  blue,  the  Dew- 
drop  gardens  were  sweet  with 
a  strange  charm  and  mystery 
all  their  own.  Pebbles,  sand, 
and  stone,  were  cunningly  dis- 
played and  mingled  to  create  $ 
the  illusion  of  an  approach 
to  a  giant  sea.  In  themselves 
the  wondrous  rocks  were  so 
fashioned  as  to  form  a  land- 
scape wherein  neither  foliage, 
trees,  nor  flowers  were  neces- 
sary. Small,  grotesque  bridges, 
made  of  rare  rocks  in  their  nat- 
ural form,  undefaced  by  hammer 
or  chisel,  spanned  the  miniature 


X 


47 


jfe 


rivers,  which,  snakelike,  crept  and  threaded 
their  way  in  and  out  of  the  rock  island.  Sud- 
denly appearing  caverns  yawned  wide  agape, 
only  to  show  on  closer  approach  that  they  were 
naught  but  gigantic  rocks,  hollow  within. 

Though  the  gardens  were  bare  of  foliage, 
yet  the  spot  shone  out  like  a  jewel  set  in  a 
magic  river.  Here  was  the  perfection  of 
art,  that  art  so  complete  that  without  the 
very  things  of  nature  which  seem  necessary 
to  a  landscape,  the  cunning  hand  of  man 
had  fashioned  the  like  out  of  the  hard  and 
jagged  substance  of  stone  and  rock.  And  in 
this  the  hand  of  the  Creator  had  aided,  since 
the  very  rocks  which  formed  this  precious 
and  priceless  island,  the  pride  and  wealth 
of  the  Lord  of  Catzu,  had  been  untouched  by 
the  tool  of  the  artisan,  for,  having  been  gath- 
ered together  from  all  parts  of  the  country, 
they  were  planted  in  their  natural  form  upon 
this  island  jewel. 

Across  the  narrow  river  the  shores  were 
green,  while  beyond  the  silent  surface  of  the 
moats  the  granite  walls  of  the  Catzu  palace 
rose  to  a  height,  white  and  stately,  tipped  with 
golden  towers  and  peaks  that  were  taller  than 
the  cedars  and  the  pines  centuries  old. 

A  stir  of  expectation  thrilled  the  Dewdrop 
tea-house,  and  then  a  clear,  shrill  voice  cried 
aloud  : 

"  The  Lady  Wistaria  passes  into  the  honor- 
able hall." 


4 


48 


THE  JWOOJNG  op  \MSTAPJ A 


The  twenty  geishas  prostrated  themselves 
at  my  lady's  feet.  Gracefully  she  returned 
their  courtesy,  begging  that  they  \vould  serve 
her  and  her  august  guest,  the  Lord  Tominaga 
Keiki,  with  refreshment. 

The  geishas,  at  this  period  in  history  oc- 
cupying a  high  and  dignified  position  in  soci- 
ety, expressed  their  wish  to  serve  their  lady 
for  the  rest  of  their  lives. 

They  brought  the  lovers  fresh  fruit,  shining 
and  luscious,  and  drink  from  a  well  of  sweet- 
est and  purest  water.  Humbly  apologizing 
for  the  honorable  meanness  of  the  refresh- 
ment, the  chief  geisha  prayed  that  they  would 
condescend  to  pardon  her,  for  not  even  in 
her  dreams  had  she  imagined  that  the  gods 
would  favor  her  so  soon  in  the  season  with 
such  august  guests. 

But  the  lovers  only  smiled  benevolently 
upon  her,  and  insisted  that  never,  no,  never 
in  all  the  honorable  days  of  their  lives,  had 
they  been  blessed  with  more  gracious  refresh- 
ment. Whereat  the  geisha,  with  many  low, 
grateful  obeisances,  retired. 

The  lovers  sighed  as  in  one  breath. 

"Once  more  alone,"  said  Keiki,  blissfully 
reaching  over  the  little  table  and  laying  his 
own  hands  softly  upon  those  of  the  girl.  "  How 
gracious  the  gods!" 

"Of  a  truth,"  said  Wistaria,  smiling  up  at 
him;  "we  must  repay  the  gods." 

"  We    must,    indeed.     What    shall    we   do? 

^  I  *-  1  T= 

49 


Build  a  thousand  temples  to  —  well,  which 
one?" 

"  I  consider!"  quoth  Wistaria,  thinking  very 
seriously.  Then,  suddenly,  with  a  little,  sil- 
very laugh:  "I  have  it.  Let  us  deify  my 
own  august  uncle.  Is  he  not  the  god  who 
befriends  us?" 

"Not  consciously,"  said  Keiki,  "for  I  doubt 
not  my  Lord  of  Catzu  would  fume  and  curse 
me  roundly  did  he  know  I  took  advantage 
of  his  honorable  disposition  to  sleep." 

Wistaria  laughed  softly. 

"Now  I  am  quite  ready  to  swear,"  she 
said,  "that  of  late  my  honorable  uncle  is 
perfectly  conscious  when  he  sleeps." 

"  Pray  tell  me,"  cried  Keiki,  starting. 

The  girl  nodded  merrily. 

"  Will  you  tell  me,  then,  how  it  is  possible 
for  one  to  fall  asleep  in  a  small,  rocking 
boat  ?  Could  you  or  I  do  so,  my  Lord 
Keiki?" 

"Oh,  not  you  or  I;  but  your  honorable 
uncle  is  divinely  lethargic." 

"Then,  my  lord,  he  is  but  lately  afflicted." 

"  But  I  do  not  understand,  then  —  you  can- 
not mean  —  Oh  no,  it  could  hardly  be  so!" 

"And  why  not,  my  lord?  To  me  it  seems 
that  even  the  gods  must  needs  favor  you, 
much  more  an  honorable  mortal." 

"Your  uncle  favor  me!  It  cannot  be  pos- 
sible." 

"It  is  possible.       It  is  so." 


L 


f 


•50 


\MSTAR)A     n 

=*•          -J — rji 


"  But  he  has  been  acquainted  with  me  only 
for  the  past  six  days." 

"  And  does  it  take  a  year  for  favor  to  grow, 
when  love — " 

"Awakens  in  a  day  —  an  hour,"  finished 
Keiki,  rapturously.  "  No,  I  can  see  how  it  is 
possible,  but  I  could  not  at  once  realize  my 
good-fortune.  Moreover — " 

Suddenly  he  broke  off  as  a  melancholy 
shadow  crept  across  his  brow,  troubling  his 
eyes.  In  a  sudden  depression  he  bent  forward. 

"My  lord  is  troubled?  Speak  to  me 
quickly." 

"  Troubled?    Yes,  that  is  so,"  Keiki  sighed. 

"  Then  do,  I  pray  you,  speak  your  trouble 
to  me,"  said  Wistaria.  Immediately  she  threw 
herself  at  his  feet,  resting  her  hands  upon  his 
knees  and  raising  her  face  upward  to  his. 
Keiki  took  her  face  in  his  hands.  He  looked 
deep  into  her  love-lit  eyes. 

"Yes,  I  will  tell  you,  little  Wistaria,"  he 
said,  "  though  I  fear  you  are  already  acquaint- 
ed with  my  secret." 

"I  am  not,  indeed,"  she  denied. 

"You  do  not  know,"  he  asked,  sadly,  "that 
I  am  of  the  Mori  clan?" 

"Of  the  Mori  clan!  And  is  that  all  that 
troubles  you,  my  lord?" 

"And  is  not  that  sufficiently  serious?" 

"No." 

"  But  surely  you  must  be  aware  of  the  feud 
existing  between  the  Mori  and  Catzu  clans?"  |«. 

4          >          *»-       i        -a — 

51 


THE  JWOOJNO  of?  WJSTAPJA 


"My  lord,  you  and  I  do  not  constitute  the 
Mori  and  Catzu  clans." 

"  You  and  I,"  he  repeated,  slowly,  "  do  not 
constitute  the  Mori  and  Catzu  clans."  Then, 
after  a  silent  moment  :  "  Alas,  my  lady,  I  fear 
we  do!" 

Wistaria  snatched  her  hands  quickly  from 
his  and  arose.  Certainly  he  could  not  love 
her,  she  thought,  if  he  allowed  so  small  a 
thing  as  that  to  distress  him. 

"If  that  be  so  —  if  that  is  what  you  think, 
my  lord,  deign  to  inform  me  why  you  have 
condescended  to  make  suit  to  me?" 

"I  was  forced  to  make  my  suit  in  secret/' 
he  said,  almost  bitterly. 

"But  your  love  is  honest,  is  it  not?" 

"Oh,  my  flower-girl,  can  you  ask  that?" 

She  was  contrite  in  a  moment.  Once  more 
she  was  at  his  feet,  kneeling,  and  pressing 
both  his  hands  with  her  little,  slender,  ner- 
vous fingers. 

"Nay,  then,  do  not  look  so  sad,  my  Keiki. 
It  troubles  me  that  you  should  allow  so  silly 
a  thing  as  the  differences  of  our  respective 
clans  even  for  a  fraction  of  a  moment  to  come 
between  us." 

"They    cannot    truly    come    between    us,"    ft 
was  his  fervid  reply,  "for  no  power  on  earth 
can  actually  separate  us  now.     Are  we  not 
sworn  to  each  other  for  all  time  —  for  all  eter- 
nity?" 

"Then  why  be  so  sad?    You,  who  are  so    *# 

1    4     -       '-  '    *-  -  '  -  q 

52 


TOE  AGOING  Oj*  WJSTAPJA     n 

E -%  3  *-  1 ^ 


brave,  cannot  fear  the  dangers  that  may  be- 
set our  union." 

"No,  no,  it  is  not  that.  But — I  sigh  for 
the  tears  of  others — our  honorable  ancestors 
and  parents." 

"  Then  do  cease  to  sigh  at  once,  if  you  please. 
Why,  it  is  not  such  a  terrible  crime  to  marry 
a  Mori,  surely!" 

"No,  I  hope  not,"  said  Keiki,  smiling  now. 

"No,  indeed,  for  my  own  honorable  uncle 
committed  that  same  fault." 

"Fault?" 

"  And  I  believe  that  if  we  were  to  go  to  him, 
and  tell  him  the  honorable  truth,  he  would 
gladly  assist  us." 

"Not  if  he  knew  all,"  said  Keiki,  sadly. 
"No,  he  must  know  nothing  yet." 

"Indeed,"  said  Wistaria,  "I  did  not  know 
the  feeling  of  the  Mori  was  so  bitter  against 
us,  and  I  do  assure  you  that  in  Catzu  the 
prejudice  exists  not  so  much  against  your 
clan,  as  against  your  lord  and  prince." 

"Alas,  that  is  too  true!"  answered  Keiki, 
half  under  his  breath. 

"Well,  a  courtier's  loyalty  to  his  Prince 
need  not  at  all  be  shaken  if  he  marry  the  in- 
significant niece  of  a  rival  clan.  My  own 
honorable  father  was  of  that  very  clan  him- 
self. Know  you  not  that,  my  lord?" 

Keiki  groaned  suddenly.  Whereat  the  girl 
placed  her  hands  on  his  shoulders  and  forced 
him  to  look  into  her  eyes. 


** 


53 


VJSTARJA 

...      -%--. '..' 


"My  lord,"  she  said,  "do  you  know  aught 
of  my  father's  history?" 

Slowly  Keiki  drew  himself  up  from  her 
clinging  hands.  Placing  one  arm  close  about 
her,  he  drew  her  to  his  breast. 

"Let  us  no  longer  talk  of  these  distressful 
matters." 

"Nay,  I  have  asked  you  a  question.  Do, 
I  beseech  you,  answer  me." 

"What  can  I  say?"  His  voice  was  very 
low. 

"Tell  me  of  my  father — pray  tell  me,"  she 
implored,  almost  piteously. 

"Of  your  father?  But  surely  I  can  tell  you 
nothing  that  you  do  not  already  know?" 

"I  know  naught  of  my  father,  save  that 
he  was  a  Choshui  samurai,  and  for  some 
honorable  offence  was  banished  by  that  wick- 
ed and  cruel  Prince  of  Mori." 

Keiki  was  silent. 

"I  have  questioned  every  one  about  me — 
my  uncle",  his  samurai,  the  very  servants 
about  the  castle — but  none  will  make  answer 
to  me,  whether  from  ignorance  or  by  command 
of  those  in  authority  over  them,  I  know  not. 
Do  you,  then,  my  lover,  answer  me." 

"My  little  flower-girl,  I  do  not  know  the 
offence  of  your  honorable  father,  nor  do  I 
know  why  or  wherefore  he  was  sent  into 
exile.  I  was  but  a  child  of  five  when  this 
penalty  came  upon  him." 
n  "  Then  wherefore  did  you  tremble  and  turn 

L    iff         4—  "x       _        %  I ff 

^  54 


TWE  J^oojNG  OF  VflSTARJA     n 

r  ^  3|  ^p-  _T  J 


away  your  eyes  when  I  spoke  of  my  honor- 
able parent?" 

"Because  I  know  that  injury  of  some  sort 
was  wrought  against  your  honorable  parent 
by  my — by  the  Mori,  and  since  then  so  im- 
placable an  enmity  exists  between  our  families 
that  nothing  but  blood  alone  can  ever  wipe 
away  the  stain.  Think,  then,  of  the  wrong 
I  do  your  father  in  loving  his  own  daughter!" 

"  No,  no  —  dear  Keiki  —  it  is  no  wrong,  I 
do  assure  you.  If  there  be  a  feud  existing 
between  my  father  and  the  Mori  Prince,  truly 
you  and  I,  who  are  innocent,  cannot  be  im- 
plicated in  any  way,  and,  indeed,  it  is  not  as 
if  I  were  about  to  wed  one  of  the  Mori  family 
itself,  but—" 

"In  that  case,"  he  interrupted,  quickly, 
"if  I  were  indeed  of  this  Mori  family,  what 
then?" 

For  a  moment  the  girl  recoiled,  shrinking 
backward,  and  regarded  him  with  frightened, 
shocked  eyes. 

"That — would — be — impossible,"  she  said, 
and  she  shivered  with  apprehension. 

"If  it  were  possible?"  said  the  lover, 
hoarsely. 

"It  could  not  be,"  she  insisted,  "for  the 
Mori  princes  are  proud  and  ill-favored,  while 
you-" 

"While  I?" 

" — You  are  more  beautiful  than  the  sun- 
god." 

a.    -     a          jp-        x         a: — 

55 


?  VJSTARiA 

:fr  Jl 


"  But  you  have  not  answered  me.  Suppose 
it  were  —  Prince  Keiki,  the  heir  of  Mori,  who 
wooed  you?" 

"I  cannot,  my  lord.  Oh,  the  Prince  is 
otherwise  occupied  than  in  wandering  with 
love,"  replied  Wistaria,  smiling  at  the  thought. 
"Why,  he  is  the  head  of  a  wicked  party  of 
Imperialists,  I  have  ofttimes  heard  my  uncle 
declare,  and  is  the  most  cunning  and  base  fer- 
menter  of  intrigue  against  our  august  Sho- 
gun  in  the  whole  empire.  Indeed,  he  has  no 
time  or  inclination  for  dallying  with  love." 

"But  —  if  I  were  indeed  he,  what  then?" 

"Why,  then  —  then,"  said  the  girl,  slowly 
rising,  and  regarding  him  with  shining  eyes, 
"then  still  I  would  say,  'Take  me.'  What 
have  we  to  do  with  the  quarrels  of  our 
ancestors,  the  wrongs  or  the  rights  of  our 
honorable  parents?  You  and  I  are  under  the 
sheltering  wings  of  the  god  of  love.  We  rec- 
ognize no  law  of  country,  lord,  or  kindred. 
Let  us  go  into  the  mountains  together  and 
find  refuge  in  a  cottage  where  we  can  live 
and  love  in  peace." 

"Oh,  thou  dear  one!"  he  cried. 

"But  why  suggest  such  a  horrible  possi- 
bility?" she  continued,  tremulously.  "Thou 
art  not  that  base  and  traitorous  Prince?  Thou 
art—" 

"Thy  love!     That  is  all,"  he  said. 


n    THE: 

fr-y— a.      •  3E 


G  op  \W3TARi A     n 


N  the  joy  and  sunshine  of 
Wistaria's  nature,  which  would 
have  driven  sadness  from  the 
soul  of  a  hermit,  Keiki's  mel- 
ancholy was  evanescent.  Her 
lover's  fears  at  the  mere  possi- 
bility of  their  being  forced  apart 
were  soon  dissipated  by  her. 

A  week  passed  —  sped  like 
so  many  minutes.  The  pale 
green  of  the  spring  grass  was 
deepening  in  hue  and  the  trees 
were  in  leaf.  The  lovers  lin- 
gered in  the  paths  that  led 
down  to  the  little  boat-house, 
whence  each  day  they  sailed 
slowly  down  the  river  to  the 

t ,  .   .-, .  ~j£-   •      x..    .    «F, 

57 


TWE»VJOO)NG  op  VflSTfAFDA 

rock  island.  There  in  the  lazy,  drifting  boat, 
the  drowsy  Lord  of  Catzu  dosed  back  against 
his  padded  seat,  while  the  lovers  looked  into 
each  other's  eyes,  or  furtively  pressed  each 
other's  hands. 

Meanwhile  their  short  hours  of  happiness 
were  being  slowly  ticked  off  by  the  god  of 
love,  at  whose  shrine  they  had  offered  the 
whole  wealth  of  their  hearts.  The  days 
of  their  joy  were  numbered.  That  strange 
honey  of  bliss  they  sipped  so  greedily  was 
soon  to  be  snatched  from  their  lips. 

The  Lady  Evening  Glory  was  recovering 
slowly  from  her  indisposition.  Because  the 
lady  herself  had  contracted  a  most  wilful  and 
romantic  marriage,  she  was  perhaps  the  more 
suspicious  of  the  culpability  of  others.  She 
trusted  neither  youth  nor  maid,  but  Wistaria 
bore  the  weight  of  her  suspicions. 

While  gossip  and  idle  chatter  had  stolen 
into  the  lady's  chamber  concerning  the  charms 
and  grace  of  their  whilom  guest,  Wistaria's 
almost  extravagant  solicitude  for  her  set  my 
lady  at  first  to  thinking,  and  then  to  acting. 

The  Lady  Evening  Glory  was  no  believer 
in  the  worship  of  the  sun.  Nevertheless, 
some  garrulous  maid  having  carried  to  her 
the  innocent  remark  of  her  niece  that  she 
enjoyed  viewing  the  rising  of  the  sun,  a  few 
mornings  later  found  the  Lady  Evening 
Glory  not  only  arising  before  the  sun,  but 
wrending  her  way  through  the  silent  corridors 


58 


\WSTARJA 


of  the  palace  until  she  was  before  the  chamber 
of  the  Lady  Wistaria.  Without  so  much  as  a 
tap  for  admission,  she  softly  pushed  aside 
the  sliding  shoji. 

With  the  keenest  of  lover's  ears,  Wistaria 
heard  the  faint  shir-r-r  made  by  the  sliding 
doors.  In  the  same  instant  down  went  her 
own  shutter.  So  when  the  Lady  Evening 
Glory  entered  the  chamber  she  found  her 
niece  sitting  on  the  floor,  her  back  set  stiffly 
against  her  casement  shutter,  and  a  deep 
rosy  coloring  all  over  her  face.  Her  guilty 
eyes  fell  before  the  cold  glare  of  her  august 
aunt. 

The  next  thing  the  Lady  Evening  Glory's 
sharp  eyes  fell  upon  were  the  flowers.  They 
lay  in  a  great,  tumbled  mass  all  about  the 
Lady  Wistaria.  There  was  no  mistaking  the 
meaning  of  those  tell-tale  blossoms.  The  Lady 
Evening  Glory's  lips  became  a  thin,  pursed 
line. 

"The  flowers?    Whence  came  they?" 

"From  the  honorable  garden,"  answered 
Wistaria,  trembling. 

"There  is  no  tree  in  all  the  garden  with 
blossoms  in  full  bloom.  They  are  only  com- 
mencing to  bud,  and  will  not  blossom  before 
the  first  of  April." 

To  this  undeniable  fact  Wistaria  made  no 
response. 

"  Answer  when  thou  art  spoken  to,"  prompt- 
ed her  aunt,  sharply. 

3-=JL  *  A  ~J 

59 


n     TOE 

•  * 


"My  lady  —  I  do  not  know  what  to  say." 

"  Then  you  leave  me  to  my  own  conjectures. 
You  have  a  lover." 

"Oh  no,  indeed!" 

"What  I  Flowers  fresh  with  the  morning 
dew  in  your  chamber,  and  you  with  your 
hair  unbound  1  Pray  when  did  it  become 
an  honorable  fashion  for  ladies  of  our  rank 
to  venture  out  to  purchase  flowers  before 
sunrise  —  and  in  such  scanty  attire?" 

"My  aunt,  you  are  killing  me." 

"Your  health  appears  to  me  to  be  far  from 
feeble." 

"I  am  innocent  of  any  wrong,"  said  Wis- 
taria, with  a  flash  of  spirit. 

"Then  you  will  not  object  to  inform  me 
who  presented  you  with  these  flowrers?" 

"An  honorable  gentleman,"  said  Wistaria. 

"Indeed!  And  what  is  this  honorable 
gentleman's  name,  may  I  ask?" 

Wistaria  hesitated.  Then  a  sudden  idea 
came  to  her.  She  smiled  mysteriously. 

"But  I  do  not  know  his  name,"  she  said, 
which  was  quite  true,  as  she  was  unaware 
of  her  lover's  true  name. 

"  You  do  not  know  the  name  of  your  lover!" 
cried  her  aunt,  incredulously. 

"Indeed,  I  wish  I  did." 

"Yet  you  accept  his  gift!  You  are  en- 
tirely without  shame,  girl!" 

"Oh,  lady!  the  flowers  were  so  beautiful 
I  could  not  resist  them." 


60 


TW£  AV^^JI  i v*t '  wj^o  j/*\rvijei     PT 

r5F sp 31  -y       1        K: 

"Beautiful!"  shrieked  her  aunt.  "And  be- 
cause flowers  are  beautiful,  is  that  an  excuse 
for  accepting  the  love  of  some  impudent  ad- 
venturer?" 

"Accepting  the  love!"  repeated  Wistaria, 
faltering. 

"  Yes,  indeed,  and  you  need  not  pretend  ig- 
^ norance  of  my  words.  They  are  quite  clear  to 
you,  I  have  no  doubt." 

"But—" 

"You  are  well  aware  that  by  accepting  the 
flowers  you  also  accept  his  despicable  love, 
and  practically  betroth  yourself  to  this  fellow. 
He  shall  be  flogged  for  his  impertinence." 

"Flogged!"  cried  Wistaria,  becoming  very 
pale. 

"Flogged,  I  repeat,"  said  her  aunt,  coldly. 

Wistaria  shivered  with  apprehension.  She 
had  not  until  now  grasped  the  real  seriousness 
of  her  position. 

"  Your  father,"  continued  the  Lady  Evening 
Glory,  "shall  be  sent  for  this  day.  We  shall 
see  what  those  in  authority  over  you  think 
of  your  conduct." 

The  aunt  had  but  to  mention  the  father  to 
fill  Wistaria  with  fear.  She  sprang  to  her 
feet  and  stood  trembling  among  the  scat- 
tered blossoms. 

"  I  am  guilty  of  no  wrong,  I  do  assure  you, 
my  lady  aunt.  But  I  arose  to  enjoy  the  sun's 
awakening,  and — and  I  did  find  these  honor- 
able flowers  on  my  sill,  and  indeed  they  spoke 

61 


TOE  J 


to  me  of  —  of  the  coming  summer,  and  so  many 
things,  dear  aunt,  that  I  was  fain  to  take 
them  in." 

"Then  do,  pray,  my  little  dove,  inform 
me  what  you  know  concerning  this  pre- 
sumptuous fellow  who  placed  them  on  your 
sill." 

"Oh,  my  lady,  he  is  indeed  honorably 
noble." 

"Indeed!" 

"  I  do  assure  you.  He  is  —  "  she  broke  off, 
painfully  debating  in  her  mind  the  wisdom 
of  confessing  the  truth  to  her  aunt. 

"He  is  —  ?"  repeated  her  aunt 

"Our  own  august  guest." 

"Ah  —  ho!  Then,  if  that  is  so,  you  spoke 
a  lie  just  a  moment  since  when  you  said  you 
did  not  know  your  lover's  name." 

Wistaria  attempted  to  speak,  but  broke  off, 
faltering  and  stammering  piteously. 

"May  I  inquire,  then,"  continued  her  aunt, 
relentlessly,  "whether  you  are  unacquainted 
,,  with  the  honorable  name  of  our  august 
guest?" 

"Oh,  my  lady,  I  do  believe  that  —  that  he 
assumed  another  —  only  —  just  for  the  innocent 
romance  of  wooing  me  under  an  assumed 
title." 

"  So  !  And  pray  how  comes  it,  then,  that 
my  son's  honorable  guest  should  also  happen 
to  be  your  lover?  If  in  order  to  woo  you  he 
came  hither  under  an  assumed  name,  then 

?  ---    .JL...     -  -^          £:         T-= 

62 


VJSTAPJA 


it  would  seem  that  you  had  some  previous 
acquaintance  with  him?" 

"He  followed  our  cortege  from  Yedo,  ma- 
dame/'  confessed  the  unhappy  girl. 

"  What  !  You  do  not  mean  to  tell  me  that  he 
is  that  insolent  Mori  courtier  of  whom  I  heard 
only  after  my  arrival  home?" 

Wistaria  pressed  her  hands  tightly  together. 
She  seemed  overcome.  Then  suddenly  she 
raised  her  head  with  almost  defiant  bravery. 

"He  is  of  the  Mori  clan,  madame,"  she 
said. 

"The  Mori  clan!"  The  lady's  voice  rose 
shrilly.  "How  came  he,  then,  to  enter  our 
grounds?" 

"He  came,  my  lady,  by  the  south  river, 
where  there  is  a  break  in  the  wall." 

"But  how  could  he  know  this?  Answer  me 
that  at  once." 

{<  T  _  » 

"  Will  you  deign  to  inform  me  whether  you 
condescended  so  far  as  to  answer  the  love- 
letters  of  this  young  man,  for  I  have  no  doubt 
he  favored  you  with  many?" 

"  I  wrote  only  one  insignificant  reply,"  said 
Wistaria. 

"And  what,  pray,  did  you  say  in  this  re- 

ply?" 

"I  implored  him  to  follow  us  no  farther. 
I  besought  him  to  give  up  the  impossible 
exploit  of  entering  our  grounds,  and,  know- 
ing what  would  be  his  fate  if  he  attempted  to 


VJJSTAPJA 


do  so,  I  also  informed  him  that  if  he  must  in- 
deed enter,  to  do  so  by  way  of  the  south  river, 
that  a  portion  of  our  grounds  ran  down  to 
this  honorable  river  and  was  unprotected  by 
the  walls,  which  otherwise  surrounded  us  on 
all  sides/' 

"  So  it  seems  that  you  have  betrayed  to  our 
enemy  the  weakness  of  our  condition?" 

"Not  an  enemy,  lady!     He  is  not,  indeed." 

"And  may  I  ask  how  your  redoubtable 
lover,  having  gained  entrance  to  our  grounds, 
also  contrived  to  wedge  his  way  into  the  pal- 
ace and  become  a  guest  of  our  hospitality?" 

"Toro — "  faltered  Wistaria. 

Her  aunt's  face  flamed. 

"Toro,  he  discovered  him  the  first  morn- 
ing, and — and — they  became  friends  at  once." 

"My  son!" 

"  Oh  yes,  madame,  and  on  my  two  knees,  I 
am  prepared  to  beg  you  to  show  him  mercy." 

"Keep  your  knees,  my  young  lady,  to  beg 
mercy  for  yourself.  You  may  have  need 
,.  of  it  ere  long,"  said  her  aunt,  with  chilling 
irony. 


64 


P  WISTARIA 

3"  3T=     =XI 


ROM  the  insinuations  and 
threats  of  the  Lady  Evening 
Glory  it  might  seem  as  if 
Wistaria's  lover  were  in  im- 
minent danger,  and  that  the 
Catzu  family  might  be  expect- 
ed to  hasten  instantly  to  cast 
him  out  from  their  province 
or  have  him  imprisoned  as  a 
trespasser  and  impostor.  But 
-)  Japanese  craft  is  more  subtle. 
Besides,  the  right  of  judgment 
lay  in  the  hands  of  the  father 
of  Wistaria,  who  was  her  natu- 
ral  and  legal  guardian.  It  was 
necessary,  therefore,  that  the 
young  man  should,  for  the 


3 


X 


65 


time  being,  gather  no  suspicion  of  their  dis- 
covery. Consequently  the  Catzu  family  re- 
doubled their  expressions  of  good -will  and 
friendship  for  their  guest,  while  the  only  one 
who  could  have  warned  him  was  placed 
where  she  was  helpless  to  do  so. 

With  excessive  sweetness,  the  Lady  Evening 
Glory  informed  the  courtier  that  she  had 
i  heard  such  good  reports  of  him  from  her 
honorable  husband  that  she  had  risen  pre- 
maturely from  her  bed  of  sickness  in  order 
to  greet  him  and  assure  him  of  her  solicita- 
tion for  his  comfort  and  pleasure  during  his 
stay  in  Catzu. 

All  these  marks  of  friendship  and  compli- 
ment from  the  honorable  lady  of  the  house, 
besides  the  increased  cordiality  of  the  Lord 
of  Catzu,  would  have  been  very  delightful  to 
the  lover,  but  for  the  fact  that  almost  coin- 
cident with  the  return  to  health  of  her  aunt 
it  was  announced  that  the  Lady  Wistaria 
was  unable  to  leave  her  apartments  because 
of  a  sudden  illness.  The  lover,  therefore, 
in  an  agony  of  apprehension  for  the  health 
of  his  mistress,  had  no  heart  or  ears  for  the 
words  of  compliment  pressed  upon  him  by 
her  family. 

He  spent  his  time  roving  restlessly  about  the 
grounds  of  the  palace  in  the  neighborhood 
of  Wistaria's  casement,  but  the  blinds  were 
drawn  tightly,  morning,  noon,  and  night, 
and  there  was  only  the  memory  of  the  girl's 


66 


\flSTARJA 


exquisite  face  at  the  window  to  torture  the 
lover. 

The  arrival  of  Shimadzu,  the  father  of  the 
Lady  Wistaria,  created  no  stir  in  the  Catzu 
palace.  He  came  silently  at  night.  If  any 
of  the  servants  or  members  of  the  household 
knew  of  his  presence  they  were  dumb  con- 
cerning the  matter.  The  lover,  consequently, 
was  wholly  unaware  of  his  coming. 

Shimadzu  was  closeted  for  some  hours 
with  his  sister  and  brother-in-law.  The  Lady 
Evening  Glory  was  bitter  against  her  niece. 
Not  merely  the  fact  of  the  indelicate  and  un- 
conventional manner  of  the  courtship,  nor 
even  the  fact  that  the  lover  was  a  member 
of  their  rival  clan,  and  through  his  residence 
among  them  must  have  acquired  information 
concerning  their  province  which  would  be 
of  value  to  his  prince  —  not  these  things  in- 
furiated her  so  much  as  the  thought  that  her 
son,  the  pride  and  joy  of  her  life,  the  heir  of 
Catzu,  had  been  led  by  this  stranger  into  an 
undertaking  both  perilous  and  shameful,  the 
outcome  of  which  was  most  uncertain. 

The  Lord  of  Catzu  was  milder  and  more 
lenient  towards  the  guilty  parties,  possibly 
realizing  in  his  inmost  soul  a  measure  of 
the  responsibility.  He  endeavored  to  palliate 
their  offenQe. 

As  for  Shimadzu  himself,  he  had  not  one 
word  to  say.  He  listened  to  the  separate 
speeches  of  his  sister  and  brother-in-law,  ^ 


67 


n, 


and  when  they  had  concluded  he  simply  re- 
quested that  his  daughter  be  ordered  into  his 
presence  at  once. 

Wild  -  eyed  and  trembling,  Wistaria  was 
brought  in.  Gone  from  her  face,  pale  and 
drawn  with  the  intensity  of  her  sufferings, 
was  all  the  sun.  During  the  three  days  pre- 
ceding the  arrival  of  her  father  she  had  been 
locked  up  alone  in  an  interior  room  of  the 
palace.  No  one  had  approached  save  her 
august  aunt,  who  brought  food  with  her 
own  hands,  and  whose  absolute  silence  in- 
spired her  with  a  great  dread.  She  would 
speak  no  word,  or  even  deign  to  look  at  the 
unhappy  girl.  Wistaria,  rendered  frantic  by 
her  fears  for  her  lover,  had  ofttimes  thrown 
herself  at  her  aunt's  feet,  piteously  beseeching 
that  she  would  enlighten  her  as  to  the  fate  of 
her  lover.  But  the  Lady  Evening  Glory  would 
shake  her  skirts  icily  and  contemptuously 
from  her  grasp,  to  retire  without  a  word  of 
response. 

Now  Wistaria  prostrated  herself  before  the 
parent  who  had  always  inspired  her  with 
such  incomprehensible  fear.  He  motioned 
her  to  be  seated,  though  he  himself  remained 
standing.  Mutely,  mechanically,  she  obeyed 
him. 

For  a  moment  there  was  silence.  The  deep- 
set  eyes  of  the  father  looked  out  at  the  young 
girl,  noting  the  piteous  tremble  of  the  hands, 
the  small,  bowed  head,  the  down -drooped 

— 3-"  •   ..  .•_  3^          "  ^-  1      "•  "  *y 

«*  68 


n 


eyes  which  dared  not  meet  his  own,  and  all 
the  other  evidences  of  her  sufferings.  What- 
ever the  thoughts  of  the  father,  whether  mer- 
ciful or  cruel,  his  impassive  face  revealed  not 
his  inner  feelings.  In  some  strange  way  this 
samurai  seemed  steeled  against  the  pain  of 
the  world  itself.  Suddenly  he  spoke,  his  hol- 
low voice  smiting  with  a  shock  the  frail,  highly 
strung  girl. 

"My  daughter,  had  you  a  mother  to  love 
and  guide  you,  you  would  not  now  be  un- 
happy." 

He  paused  to  note  the  effect  of  his  strange 
words  —  strange  because  of  the  lack  of  emotion 
and  sympathy  that  should  have  accompanied 
them.  Wistaria  raised  her  head  painfully, 
but  she  dicl  not  speak. 

"Therefore,"  continued  her  father,  "I  wish 
to  inform  you  that  it  is  because  of  an  enemy 
that  you  are  now  motherless,  and  therefore 
misguided." 

"An  enemy?"  repeated  Wistaria,  dully. 

"And  it  is  to  take  my  revenge  upon  this 
enemy  that  I  am  now  about  to  impose  a  cer- 
tain duty  upon  you  which  may  at  first  seem 
repugnant.  Before  I  do  so,  however,  I  wish 
to  remind  you  that  you  come  of  a  proud  and 
heroic  race,  my  daughter,  no  member  of  which 
has  ever  faltered  in  his  duty.  I  would  there- 
fore, my  daughter,  much  rather  see  you  strong 
and  fearless  than  weak  and  trembling,  as  you 
now  appear." 


f 


1.  •&*. 

69 


QOJf?  \W3TARJA 


Raising  herself  bravely,  with  a  superhuman 
effort  the  girl  grasped  at  her  strength  of  will. 

"My  weakness,  honorable  father,  is  but 
physical.  Speak  your  august  will  with  me/' 
she  said. 

"  That  is  well/'  returned  the  samurai,  brief- 
ly. "  I  have  a  few  questions  first  of  all  to  put 
to  you.  I  need  not  say  that  I  expect  truthful 
answers,  and  will  tolerate  no  prevarication." 

The  girl  bowed  her  head  with  a  certain 
dignity  of  submissiveness. 

"  Of  what  rank  is  your  lover?" 

Wistaria  trembled. 

"  I  do  not  know,"  she  replied,  in  a  low  voice. 

"He  has  not  mentioned  his  rank  to  you?" 

"Only  that  he  was  of  honorably  insignif- 
icant rank." 

"Humph!  Well,  that  is  but  a  natural  re- 
ply. What  is  his  appearance?" 

For  a  brief  moment  a  gleam  of  strange 
pride  came  over  her  face.  She  pressed  her 
little  hands  passionately  together. 

"  Oh,  my  father,  he  is  honorably  noble,  I 
do  assure  you.  He  possesses  —  " 

"  I  did  not  ask  for  a  rhapsody  upon  his  mer- 
its," interrupted  the  samurai,  coldly.  "  How- 
ever, I  am  satisfied  as  to  his  rank." 

A  tear  fell  softly  upon  her  little  hand.  Feel- 
ing, rather  than  seeing,  her  father's  irritation, 
she  brushed  it  away  impatiently,  trying  vain- 
ly to  appear  brave. 

"  Now/'  resumed  Shimadzu,  half  to  himself, 


70 


Tfi£  -VQQJrSG  QF  VflSTARI A 

"if  he  is  of  noble  rank  it  follows  that  he  is 
close  to  the  Mori  family.  Very  good." 

He  turned  to  his  daughter. 

"He  is  a  good  Imperialist?" 

"He  is  honorably  loyal,"  she  replied. 

"Loyal  to  his  prince,  you  mean,  or  his 
party?" 

"Surely  to  both.  He  could  not  be  other- 
wise. He  is  a  brave  and  true  gentleman, 
my  father." 

"Very  well,  I  have  no  more  questions  to 
ask  you.  I  shall  now  outline  to  you  the  duty 
I  have  prepared  for  you.  You  are  ready  to 
obey  my  will?" 

"In  all  things,  honored  parent." 

"That  is  well.  I  commend  you  for  your 
filial  words.  First  of  all,  I  desire  all  possible 
information  concerning  the  young  heir  of 
Mori." 

"  But —  '  she  faltered,  "  how  is  it  possible 
for  me—?" 

"Your  lover,"  said  her  father,  quickly, 
"is  a  Mori  courtier.  There  is  no  doubt  he 
will  give  you  all  the  information  I  require." 

"Oh,  then,  my  father,"  she  cried,  clasping 
her  hands  together,  "you  will  be  lenient  tow- 
ards him,  will  you  not?  You  will  permit 
him  to  see  me?" 

"I  have  nothing  against  your  lover,"  said 
her  father,  with  slight  irritation. 

"Oh,  father!"  In  a  moment  her  face  was 
aglow  with  hope  and  happiness. 

X     -"    — i.       ..    .    Tfc-  'i-       '      3        - 

71 


TOE  JWOOJNG  op 


"I  advise  you  to  listen  to  me/'  he  rejoined, 
coldly. 

"  Speak  1  speak,  august  father  !  I  will  fol- 
low your  commands  faithfully,  joyfully." 

"  I  wish  to  know  the  nature  of  this  prince, 
his  habits,  his  mode  of  life,  and  the  esteem 
in  which  he  is  held  by  his  people.  Once 
you  have  learned  these  facts,  you  must  secure 
for  me  specific  details  concerning  his  political 
schemes  against  the  Shogun. 

Gradually  Wistaria  had  risen  to  her  feet. 
She  had  grown  strangely  pale.  Her  eyes 
were  frightened  and  apprehensive. 

"  You  desire,"  she  repeated,  slowly,  as  though 
she  scarce  comprehended  the  words  —  "  you  de- 
sire to  know  the  secrets  of  —  of  his  honorable 
party?" 

"Exactly." 

"You  desire,"  she  began  to  repeat,  "to 
know  the  secrets  —  " 

"More  than  that." 

"More.  You  —  you  —  my  father,  you  would 
not  injure  his  —  his  party?" 

"  Your  apprehension,  my  lady,  for  a  hostile 
party,  is  strange  for  one  of  your  training. 
Are  you,  then,  turned  Imperialist?" 

"No.  I  have  no  fear  for  myself,  my  lord. 
But  he  —  he  —  You  must  understand,  my 
lord,  he  believes  in  —  loves  his  honorable 
party  —  whether  right  or  wrong.  I  would  not 
injure  it  because  of  his  sake." 

"I   have   had   enough   of   this   weakness, 


72 


THE-M/oojNGOj 


my  daughter,  and  you  must  admit  I  have 
been  patient.  To  relieve  your  mind,  however, 
of  one  thing,  I  will  inform  you  that  I  have 
no  designs  against  either  this  young  man 
or  his  party." 

"Oh,  you  lift  from  my  heart,  my  honored 
parent,  a  weight  too  heavy  for  me  to  bear. " 

"Pugh!  It  seems  you  are  determined  not 
to  listen  to  my  orders." 

"  Speak  at  once.  I  will  not  again  interrupt 
you." 

"Very  good.  While  I  have  said  I  have 
nothing  against  this  Imperialist  party,  I  am, 
nevertheless,  desirous  of  knowing  all  their 
plans  and  secrets.  It  will  be  your  duty,  there- 
fore, to  ascertain  these  for  me.  Do  not  inter- 
rupt— "  as  she  made  as  if  to  speak.  "You 
would  say  your  lover  is  too  loyal  to  betray  his 
party  secrets,  even  to  you.  Then  you  will  use 
your  wit  to  compel  him  to  do  so." 

"I — I  will  do  so,"  she  replied,  drearily. 

"  That  is  not  all.  I  wish  you  to  force  your 
lover  into  betraying  some  scheme  or  intrigue 
of  his  prince  which  would,  if  brought  to  the 
attention  of  the  Shogun,  implicate  him  crim- 
inally. Now  I  have  arrived  at  my  chief  de- 
sire— in  other  words,  I  wish  to  accomplish  the 
ruin — the  death  of  the  Prince  of  Mori." 

Wistaria's  head  swam  in  vertigo.  She 
scarce  could  think  or  feel.  Only  one  horrible 
thought  hammered  itself  into  her  mind.  By 
the  cajolery  and  arts  of  a  false  woman  she 

=IT        -JL          -E        i      —a 

73 


was  to  assist  in  the  betrayal  of  the  prince 
to  whom  her  lover  had  sworn  allegiance. 
It  was  revolting,  cruel,  horrible.  The  mere 
thought  of  it  made  her  head  whirl  in  dizziness. 

When  she  attempted  to  speak,  her  words 
escaped  her  slowly  in  gasps. 

"I  can— not— do— that!" 

A  terrible  expression  came  into  her  father's 
face. 

"  You  dare  defy  my  authority?"  he  shouted. 

"Oh,  my  father,  put  upon  me  any  other 
task  but  this.  It  is  base,  cruel,  cruel.  And 
I — I  am  only  a  weak  woman — " 

"  That  is  true.  Do  not,  then,  I  advise  you, 
attempt  to  pit  your  weakness  against  my 
strength.  If  you  are  so  lacking  in  all  those 
qualities  admirable  in  a  woman  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  a  noble  race,  I  shall  take  means  to  force 
you  to  do  your  duty." 

A  sudden  wave  of  courage  swept  over  her. 
She  ceased  to  tremble,  though  the  samurai 
was  fierce  and  menacing.  There  sprang  into 
her  eyes  a  light  of  defiance. 

"You  have  reminded  me,  my  father,  that 
I  come  of  a  race  of  proud  and  heroic  men. 
Then  let  me  tell  you  that  I,  too,  am  conscious 
of  possessing  the  intrepid  blood  of  my  ances- 
tors, and  that  you  can  force  me  to  do  nothing 
against  my  will." 

As  she  spoke  she  had  backed  slowly  across 
the  room,  away  from  her  father,  as  though  re- 
treating from  a  blow.  Now  she  stood  against 

3       '         -Jl  ^-7  I  ;£ 

74 


VWSTARIA 


the  wall,  her  arms  spread  out  on  either  side, 
the  hands  clutching  the  partition. 

"  In  ten  minutes  I  shall  show  you,  my  lady," 
said  her  father,  between  angry,  clinched  teeth, 
"  the  fate  of  one  who  dares  defy  her  honorable 
parent." 

"Do  so,"  was  her  astonishing  response. 
"  Kill  me,  break  all  my  honorable  bones,  my 
lord.  We  all  must  suffer  and  die!" 

"You  are  too  quick  to  choose  your  meth- 
od of  punishment,  my  lady.  I  have  a  more 
subtle  means  of  teaching  you  the  duty  of  a 
child  to  its  parent.  Do  not  imagine  that  I 
shall  kill  your  body.  It  is  your  mind  and 
heart  I  shall  crush." 

"What  do  you  mean,  my  lord?" 

"  You  will  understand,  my  lady,  when  your 
lover  is  paying  with  his  life  for — " 

"Oh  no,  no,  no,  no!"  she  cried,  wildly,  her 
hands  groping  through  blinding  emotion  as 
though  she  would  push  away  from  her  some 
horror  too  awful  for  utterance.  "  No,  no,  no!" 

She  fell  down  at  her  father's  feet,  burying 
her  face  in  the  folds  of  his  hakama,  her  hands 
clutched  about  it  frantically.  "  Oh,  my  father 
— no,  no,  no!" 

She  could  say  no  more. 

"You  will  obey  my  commands?"  inquired 
the  father,  bending  over  her. 

"  Yes,  yes — oh,  my  lord — anything  on  earth 
you  may  command.  Only  spare  him,  I  be- 
seech you,  I  pray  to  you,  as  I  would  to  a 

j •  i     ..    _.•  3^..  X  tT 

75  "TT 


THE  . 
-a; 1~^  3  ^ cm: 

god!"  She  fell  to  moaning  and  crying  with 
the  weakness  of  hysteria,  no  longer  brave, 
defiant. 

He  raised  her  not  ungently.  Holding  her 
hands  firmly,  he  looked  sternly  into  her  face. 

"Listen  to  me,  my  daughter.  The  task 
may  seem  to  you  horrible.  It  should  not  be 
so.  It  is  a  righteous,  holy  cause  you  serve. 
I  have  sworn  to  the  dead,  pledged  myself,  to 
encompass  a  certain  vengeance,  which  must 
not  escape  me  now.  I  have  lived  for  no  oth- 
er purpose.  If  I  have  seemed  a  cold,  unfeel- 
ing father,  stern,  unsympathetic,  and  unloving, 
it  is  because  I  have  a  mission  in  life  greater 
than  that  of  a  father.  It  is  you  who  must 
help  me  to  attain  this  ambition.  Vengeance 
— honest,  righteous  vengeance — for  a  wrong 
done  me  and  mine  is  a  holy  cause.  No  Jap- 
anese girl  can  regard  it  otherwise.  The  Prince 
of  Mori  is  our  bitter  enemy.  We  must  accom- 
plish his  undoing — his  death!" 

"  Yes,  yes,"  she  said,  between  her  chattering 
teeth;  "and  you  will  not  harm  him  ?" 

"  I  repeat  I  have  nothing  against  this  man. 
It  is  his  prince  whose  proud  spirit  I  will  break ! 
Kill!" 

"  Yes,  yes — only  his  prince — the  old  prince. 
You  wish  me  to  kill  him?  Yes,  I  will  do 
so." 

"No;  it  is  the  young  prince  who  must 
die — the  son  of  the  Prince  of  Mori.  Do  you 
not  understand  that  I  accomplish  a  more 

—  4  .J*  .   •&-        . .  1  3 : 

76 


^4 


complete  revenge  by  compassing  the  death 
of  him  who  is  the  salt  of  his  life?" 

"Yes,  yes;  I  see  it  clear.  I  must  kill  the 
innocent.  Ah-hl  Oh,  it  is  cruel,  cruel!" 

She  was  weeping  brokenly,  piteously  at  his 
feet  again,  her  physical  strength  quite  gone. 

The  samurai  leaned  over  her. 

"  Soon,  my  daughter,  you  will  have  regained 
your  strength  and  will.  From  your  attitude 
of  a  little  while  ago  I  am  made  aware  that 
you  are  possessed  of  such  qualities  as  might 
impel  you  to  attempt  to  betray  your  father. 
Be  assured  that  you  shall  be  given  no  op- 
portunity for  doing  so.  For  your  own  good 
I  would  advise  you  to  lay  the  honorable  force 
of  repression  upon  your  disturbed  spirits, 
and  bring  yourself  to  do  that  which  I  have 
set  for  you  with  completeness  and  swiftness. 
In  this  way  you  will  render  a  service  to  your 
father  and  family,  and  save  the  life  of  this 
man  you  love." 


77 


-    TOE  J 


Of  \MSTARIA 


-4E- 


PRIL  danced  lightly  over  the 
land.  Merrily  she  flung  her 
rainbow  showers  of  sweetest 
water  upon  the  earth,  the  trees, 
the  fearsome  grass  which  March 
had  coaxed  in  vain  to  do  more 
than  peep  its  head  above  the 
soil.  Now  the  land  was  covered 
with  a  mantle  so  soft  and  ten- 
der that  its  young  life  seemed 
a  thing  that  it  were  wanton  to 
crush  beneath  the  foot. 

Early,  early  in  the  morning, 
before  the  birds  and  flowers 
had  cocked  up  their  little  heads 
to  seize  the  first  sun -kiss,  a 
lover  stood  in  a  garden  all 


y 


78 


X 


f 


TflE  -WfcojNG  of  NWSTARJA 

: a.  A ^ -r- 


made  of  gently  sloping  hillocks,  crowned 
with  trees  whitened,  as  if  frost  -laden,  with 
the  full  bloom  of  the  cherry  and  plum.  And 
the  lover's  voice  called  softly  and  tenderly 
to  his  lady's  casement: 

"  Lady  Wistaria!     My  sweetest  Wistaria!" 

At  first  there  was  no  response.  Moving 
nearer  the  casement,  he  called  again: 

"Sweetest,  dearest  one,  will  you  not  come 
to  your  window  for  a  minute  —  but  a  fraction 
of  a  minute?" 

Softly  a  hand  slid  back  the  shoji  —  a  slender, 
small,  expressive  hand  of  perfect  form  and 
contour,  and  then  a  young  girl's  face  ap- 
peared at  the  opening.  Her  eyes  were  very 
dark,  and  infinitely,  intensely  sad  in  ex- 
pression. Indeed,  one  might  almost  wonder 
whether  their  very  brightness  was  not  caused 
by  the  dews  of  unshed  tears:  She  was  pale. 
There  was  no  color  in  her  face  at  all,  save 
that  of  her  red  lips. 

So  pale  and  ethereal  she  seemed  to  her 
rapturous  lover  that,  for  a  moment,  he  was 
filled  with  an  eerie  fear  —  was  she  mortal,  or 
one  of  those  fragile  spirits  who  abide  on  the 
earth  for  a  season  only?  Then,  all  in  a  mo- 
ment, her  eyes  meeting  those  of  her  lover,  the 
sadness  of  the  night  passed  from  her  like  a 
shadow  which  is  vanquished  by  the  sunlight. 
An  instant  later  she  was  again  pale. 

"Speak  to  me  at  once,"  implored  the  lover, 
"for  but  a  moment  since  I  thought  you  a 


79 


TOR  -VOOJNG  op  VflSTAR) A 


spirit.  Dearest  one,  assure  me  that  my  pas- 
sion is  not  in  vain,  and  that  my  eyes  deceive 
me  when  they  fancy  that  yours  are  sad." 

Her  voice  faltered  and  trembled  at  first. 
Gradually  she  steadied  it. 

"  My  honorable  eyes,"  she  said,  "  are  not  al-     ^ 
ways  faithful  mirrors  of  my  heart.     Yes,  in- 
deed, you  are  deceived,  my  lord.     Look  again. 
Surely  you  will  see  that — that  they  do  smile." 

"Yes,"  he  replied,  regarding  her  somewhat 
wistfully,  "it  is  true.  They  do  smile,  and 
yet — "  He  hesitated.  "You  do  not  appear 
happy,  Fuji-wara." 

A  strange  little  laugh  escaped  her  lips. 
But  she  made  no  reply.  She  had  turned  her 
eyes  from  his,  staring  out  before  her.  As 
the  trouble  deepened  in  the  lover's  eyes,  he 
reached  up,  touching  very  gently  the  small 
white  hand  on  the  sill.  The  light  touch  of 
his  hand  startled  her.  Before  he  could  speak 
she  had  recovered  herself,  leaning  farther  over 
to  him.  Her  words  sounded  strangely  harsh. 

"  My  lord,  do  let  us  resume  our  conversation 
concerning  this  brave  cause  to  which  you 
adhere." 

He  flushed  warmly. 

"It  seems  incongruous,"  he  replied,  after  a     \ 
moment,   "that  a  tender  maiden  should  be 
interested  in  political  conflicts." 

"That  is  very  unkind,  my  lord.  You  do 
not  credit  me,  then,  with  any  other  quality, 
apparently,  than  that  of  pale  softness.  Indeed, 


80 


WJSTAPJA 

-y  -  T 


my  vanity  has  saved  me  from  the  knowledge 
that  the  gods  have  been  most  unkind." 

"Nay,  do  not  speak  so,"  he  tenderly  chid 
her.  Of  late  he  had  chafed  not  a  little  at 
her  persistent  waiving  aside  of  all  tenderer 
subjects  to  discuss  those  of  larger  import 
to  men  alone. 

"  Well,  then,"  she  persisted,  "  say  that  I  am 
capricious,  whimsical,  what  you  will.  But  do, 
pray,  humor  me,  and  if  1  find  it  necessary"  — 
she  stammered  over  her  words  —  "if  I  find  it 
interesting  to  discuss  such  matters,  pray  allow 
me  to  do  so." 

"  Do  so,  then,  at  once,  dear  one  !  I  am  all 
ears  to  listen  and  all  tongue  to  reply." 

"Pray  tell  me,  then,  are  you  truly  an  Im- 
perialist at  heart,  or  merely  so  in  name  because 
you  are  a  Mori?" 

"  Pray  tell  me  where  my  insignificant  sym- 
pathies should  lie,  and  there  I  swear  to  you 
shall  they  be." 

She  protested  that  he  but  begged  her  ques- 
tion. Did  he,  then,  consider,  because  she  was 
but  a  weak  maiden,  that  her  interest  in  such 
a  matter  must  needs  be  a  slight  thing?  Was 
she  not  herself  a  daughter  of  a  samurai,  and 
did  not  the  flame,  the  fire  of  patriotism  glow 
unceasingly  in  her  breast  also?" 

"Dear  Wistaria,"  entreated  the  lover,  "I 
pray  you  do  not  disturb  37our  gentle  bosom 
with  these  questions  which  are  meant  for 
soldiers,  not  for  maidens." 

-  T-  ..^  ^_  I  J  - 

6  81 


"Nay,  then/'  she  replied,  and  there  were 
tears  in  her  voice  now,  "  why  will  you  persist 
so?  You  are  quite  wrong,  too.  Let  me  re- 
1  peat :  I  am  the  daughter  of  a  family  whose 
women  have  had  their  honorable  share  in 
the  affairs  of  the  nation." 

"True,  but  your  house  has  stood  always 
on  one  side  only.  They  have  never  deigned 
even  to  hear  the  argument,  the  pious,  patriotic 
cry  of  the  other  side." 

"My  house!  Well,  my  lord,  and  am  I  a 
house?"  > 

He  kissed  the  slender  hand  on  the  window- 
ledge.  It  reached  just  to  his  lips. 

"  Nay,  I  swear  you  are  a  goddess.  It  could 
not  be  possible  that  one  so  good  and  fair  would 
favor  an  evil  cause." 

"Evil?  Ah,  then,  my  lord,  is  the  cause  of 
my  house  an  evil  one?" 

He  looked  up  into  her  eyes  earnestly. 

"I  should  be  a  traitor,  my  lady,  did  I  take 
advantage  of  the  friendly  hospitality  your 
house  has  offered  me  to  repay  it  by  sowing 
seeds  of  mischief." 

"But  if  the  seeds  were  not  mischievous, 
my  lord?  If  they  were  worthy  and  good?" 

He  dropped  her  hand  abruptly,  and  paced 
|  for  a  time  up  and  down  the  small  grass-grown 
walk  beneath  her  window. 

In  the  shadow  of  the  room  behind  the  Lady 
Wistaria  another  face  appeared  for  the  space 
of  a  moment  only.  Long,  lean,  cadaverous 

^C~          'Jb          -    *-  T  "3 

82 


°J* 


it  was,  wherein  fierce  eyes  burned  like  living 
coals.  With  a  shudder,  Wistaria  clutched  her 
hand  over  her  heart.  Back  to  her  casement 
came  the.  lover. 

"My  sweetest  girl,  do  not  let  us  discuss  so 
melancholy  a  subject." 

Impatient  to  speak  with  her  of  other  mat- 
ters nearer  his  heart,  the  lover  let  full,  pas- 
sionate appeal  shine  in  his  eyes.  Wistaria's 
paleness  deepened,  if  that  were  possible.  Her 
eyes  grew  humid  with  repressed  sadness. 
Her  voice  trembled  and  broke  in  spite  of  her 
words. 

"Melancholy,  my  lord?  Nay,  you  would 
treat  me  as  a  child.  You  would  turn  my 
heart  from  a  lofty  subject  with  the  graceless 
remark  that  it  is  too  melancholy  for  me." 

"Lady,  I  would  turn  your  heart  to  the 
holiest  of  all  subjects  on  earth." 

"  Ah,  what  is  that,  dear  Keiki  —  No,  no,  no  ! 
Pray  excuse  my  honorable  rudeness.  Do, 
pray,  my  lord,  rather  perceive  my  intense 
curiosity  in  the  matter  of  which  we  have 
spoken.  Then  when  you  have  enlightened 
me,  speak  whatever  you  will,  my  lord.  I 
will  listen." 

"And  concerning  what  am  I  to  enlighten 
you?" 

"  The  question  which  cuts  our  country  into 
two  bitter  factions,  each  defiant  and  warlike 
towards  the  other." 

Into  the  lover's  face  there  crept  vague,  baf- 


83 


fled  perplexity  mirroring  the  thought  beyond. 
Coquetry,  or  desire  for  political  truth — which 
swayed  his  mistress?  If  the  former,  there 
was  no  combating  it ;  if  the  latter,  then — why 
then  he  would  speak  her  true.  He  said : 

"Will  you  tell  me,  then,  whom  you  have 
been  taught  to  regard  as  the  ruler  of  Japan?" 

"Why,  our  good  Shogun  lyesada,"  she  re- 
turned, promptly. 

"Yet  he  is  not  so  regarded  by  every  one 
in  Japan." 

"Why  is  that?" 

"Because  there  are  many  who  would  see 
our  rightful  sovereign,  our  divine  Emperor, 
upon  the  throne." 

"  But,  my  lord,  his  Imperial  Majesty  is,  in- 
deed, already  upon  the  throne,  is  he  not?" 

"Only  nominally.  I  fear,  my  lady,  that 
you  have  not  read  the  Dai  Nihon  Shi  of  the 
Prince  of  Mori?" 

"No,  but  I  am  much  interested  in  it." 

"The  history,"  continued  the  young  man, 
with  vehement  bitterness,  "was  purged  re- 
peatedly by  the  Yedo  censor  of  the  Shogun. 
It  dared  to  speak  the  truth  to  the  people.  I 
do  assure  you  it  was  not  destroyed,  however, 
before  it  had  done  its  work  well." 

"How?    Pray  do  tell  me  all  about  it." 

"  Have  you  never  heard  that  pious — fanat- 
ical, if  you  will — cry,  a  barely  half-muffled 
war-cry  now,  'Daigi  Heibunor!'"  [the  King 
and  the  subject]. 


His  voice  rose  with  a  growing  passion. 
Into  his  eyes  leaped  the  gleam  of  the  patriot. 

An  exclamation  escaped  the  lips  of  the 
young  girl. 

"Oh,  my  lord,  do  not  speak  so  loudly.  I 
would  feign  warn  you.  I — I — " 

She  broke  off  in  her  agitation.  But  her 
apparent  fear  for  him  only  filled  her  lover 
with  a  great  joy.  His  voice  softened. 

"  Fuji-wara,  will  you  suffer  yourself  to  listen 
hereafter  to  a  confessed  traitor?" 

"Dear  lord,  traitor  to  the  wrong?" 

"Oh,  dearest  girl,  can  it  actually  be  that 
you  sympathize  with  our  noble  cause?" 

"I — I —  Tell  me,  do,  pray  tell  me,  with 
whom  does  the  young  Prince  of  Mori  sympa- 
thize?" 

"  Oh,  the  rascal  is  a  descendant  of  the  Mori 
of  whom  I  spoke  just  now." 

"  And  an  adherent  to  his  views?" 

"Possibly." 

"You  do  not  know  for  a  fact,"  she  urged, 
tremulously,  "just  to  what  party  the  Prince 
does  adhere?" 

"My  lady,"  replied  the  lover,  with  some 
constraint,  "  the  Prince  has  his  pride  of  caste. 
He  is  also  not  without  the  inherited  germs 
I J  of  patriotism  in  his  soul." 

"And  still  they  do  say  that  he  is  as  silly 
as  a  butterfly,  and  so  given  to  frivolity  that 
his  head  can  hold  no  serious  thought." 

"I  do  assure  you,"  replied  the  other,  flush- 

^-    .     4.     ~         >H  •    ...       jfe-,,..,.,        JT  3T. 


ing  warmly,  "that  our  prince  is  not  all  he 
may  seem." 

"My  lord,  I  have  conceived  the  most  over- 
whelming interest  in  this  young  Prince  Mori." 

"Indeed!"  The  young  man  started  back 
in  humorous  dismay.  The  girl  smiled  now, 
a  little,  dreary  smile. 

"  Be  assured,  my  lord,  that  the  interest  is 
not  of  a  sentimental  nature.  But  it  would 
seem  that  the  young  Prince  was  surely  born 
for  a  great  purpose." 

"Yes?"  inquired  the  other,  eagerly. 

"And  that  is,  to  follow  in  the  steps  of  his 
honorable  ancestor." 

"Oh,  dearest  girl,  you  fill  my  soul  with 
joy!  I  am  ready  to  swear  that  your  sweet 
heart  beats  for  the  right — the  noble  cause 
to  which — " 

"The  Prince  Mori  is  sworn?"  she  interrupt- 
ed, quickly. 

"Ay!  and  all  the  patriotic  sons  of  Japan!" 

"  And  what  do  these  sons  of  Japan  propose 
to  do?  What  are  the  plans  of  the  Prince 
Mori?" 

"My  lady!" 

"Pray,  why  do  you  start  so,  Keiki-sama?" 

"You  ask  a  weighty  question  with  the 
same  lightness  you  would  bestow  if  inquir- 
ing about  the  weather!" 

"Then  the  tones  of  my  voice  do  me  in- 
justice." 

"Wistaria,   I  swear  I  will  not  speak  an- 


86 


Ttf  £  J 


other  word  on  this  subject.  No  —  not  even 
to  you." 

"But—" 

"No,  no.     I  swear  I  will  not." 

"My  lord— 

"Did  I  arise  an  hour  before  the  sun,  think 
you,  to  preach  politics  to  my  mistress?" 

"  You  recall  the  hour  to  me  now.  It  seems 
I  must  bid  you  farewell.  My  maid  even 
now  is  tapping  on  my  door.  Do,  pray  then, 
depart." 

The  young  man  appeared  cut  to  the  heart 
at  the  parting.  He  sighed  so  deeply  that 
Wistaria  could  not  bear  to  gaze  upon  him, 
and,  conscious  of  the  impatient  presence  with- 
in, she  drew  her  windows  back  hastily  and 
shut  out  the  sight  of  her  lover  from  her.  Then 
she  faced  her  father  within. 

"You  have  heard  all,  honored  parent?" 

"Everything." 

"  You  are  a  witness  of  my  continued  efforts. 
I  fear  we  have  learned  all  there  is  to  know." 

"Your  opinion  was  not  asked,"  replied  the 
father,  coldly.  "Your  services  are  all  I  re- 
quire. You  will  resume  them  to-morrow." 

The  Lady  Wistaria  prostrated  herself  before 
her  parent  with  the  utmost  humility. 

"I  am  prepared  to  obey  your  august  will  in 
all  things,"  she  murmured,  in  the  most  filial 
and  submissive  of  voices. 


87 


n    TflE-WOOHNG  or  VJSTAR1A 

-JJ    ^  3g  ^— :  .$-  f-      -^{  -fl 


HE  aged  castle  moat  was  dark- 
ly melancholy,  though  its  banks 
on  either  side  were  beautiful 
with  the  damp  grass  and  the 
meeting  willow  and  wistaria. 
Cold,  still,  and  deep  were  its 
waters.  At  night  it  seemed 
grewsome  and  uncanny,  per- 
haps because  of  the  tragedy  of 
its  history,  which  every  Cat- 
zu  courtier  knew.  Even  in 
the  bright  sunlight  its  beauty 
was  seductively  sad,  for  its 
dark  waters  were  covered  with 
white  lotus,  mingled  with 
red  and  purple,  with  gold- 
en hearts,  whose  little  cups 


88 


VASTARIA 


each  held  one  drop  of  dew  —  a  glistening 
tear. 

Wandering  dejectedly  along  the  banks  of 
the  old  moat,  Keiki  vainly  sought  in  his 
mind  for  some  clew  to  the  phenomenal  change 
in  his  mistress.  Though  at  times  her  eyes 
seemed  drowned  in  tears  of  tenderness,  more 
often  they  were  coldly  glassy.  Her  conver- 
sation, too,  was  spasmodic,  devoid  of  all 
endearment,  and  of  a  sort  alien  to  lovers. 
When  he  had  first  seen  her  after  the  illness 
which  had  kept  her  from  his  sight  for  some 
days,  he  had  lost  all  self-control  in  the  joy 
of  beholding  her  once  more.  In  ardent  im- 
agination he  revived  the  memory  of  those 
dream  -days  on  the  little  rock  island  of  the 
twenty  geishas,  but  though  she  appeared 
to  have  recovered  her  health,  she  no  longer 
accompanied  him  upon  such  excursions.  In- 
deed, she  was  rarely  seen  in  the  Catzu  palace, 
except  on  the  formal  occasions  of  the  guest- 
room. Keiki  had  been  forced  to  content 
himself  with  those  early  morning  meetings 
at  her  casement,  so  brief,  so  unsatisfactory. 
For  she  no  longer  murmured  shy  words  of 
love  and  happiness.  She  talked,  instead,  of 
ridiculous  matters,  the  politics  of  the  coun- 
try! 

Nevertheless,  through  her  apparent  sym- 
pathy for  this  cause  so  close  to  the  heart  of 
the  young  man,  she  had  revivified  those  thrills 
of  patriotism  which,  for  the  nonce,  he  had 


89 


f 


of  WJSTAPJA 

-  -¥•=  - — E 


pushed  aside  to  devote  all  his  heart  and  mind 
to  the  sweeter  employment  of  loving. 

In  a  moment  of  enthusiasm,  only  two  days 
before,  he  had  confided  to  her  the  far-reach- 
ing plans  of  the  Mori  princes  for  their  country. 
She  had  begged  him  with  tears  in  her  eyes  to 
tell  her  of  them;  then,  before  he  had  half 
finished,  she  had  entreated  him  wildly  to  tell 
her  no  more,  and  the  next  instant,  piteously, 
tremblingly,  begged  him  to  continue.  And 
then  as  he  went  on  she  had  dropped  her  head 
upon  her  arms  and  buried  her  face  from  his 
sight.  Her  emotion  had  thrilled  him.  At  the 
moment  he  could  have  fallen  on  his  knees, 
beseeching  her  to  do  something  to  hasten 
their  marriage  so  that  he  might  return  to 
Choshui  to  do  his  part  in  this  noble  cause. 
Before  he  could  speak,  however,  she  had 
raised  her  face  and  gazed  for  a  moment  upon 
him  with  such  an  expression  of  penetrating 
agony  and  appeal  that  he  had  sprung  towards 
her,  hastily  crying  out  her  name,  "  Wistaria ! 
Wistaria!" 

A  moment  later  she  was  gone.  The  fol- 
lowing morning  he  had  waited  in  vain  in 
the  garden  beneath  her  casement.  Over  and 
over  again  he  had  tapped  upon  her  shutters 
and  called  her  name,  but  there  was  no  re- 
sponse. He  had  met  with  the  same  experi- 
ence this  morning.  Keiki  was  very  miserable. 
Since  the  change  in  her  seemed  inexplicable, 
his  confidence  was  shaken — not  his  confidence 

4      '         i  *  I  3 

90 


TOE  .WOOJNG  of?  vflSTAPJA     n 

— ~ —   3 


*=w 

u 


in  her  faith  or  truthfulness,  but  in  her  love. 
He  began  to  torture  his  mind  with  the  possi- 
bility that  she  might  not  love  him,  that  she 
had  been  but  a  girl,  after  all,  who,  flattered 
by  his  manner  of  wooing  her,  had  thought 
she  returned  his  affection.  His  faith  in  her 
purity  of  soul  was  so  perfect  that  no  slightest 
thought  of  any  designs  upon  his  political 
schemes  ever  occurred  to  him  in  connection 
with  Wistaria. 

Thus  unhappy,  worried,  and  very  much  in 
love,  Keiki  walked  moodily  along  the  bank 
of  the  old  castle  moat,  his  old  assurance  and 
egotism  completely  gone  from  him. 

Suddenly  as  he  strolled  along  something 
struck  him  sharply  on  the  temple.  Stooping, 
he  raised  from  the  ground  what  seemed  to 
be  a  soft  pebble.  Examining  it  more  closely, 
however,  he  perceived  it  to  be  a  lady's  fine 
paper  handkerchief  rolled  into  a  little  ball. 
Half  wonderingly,  half  idly,  Keiki  undid  it. 
A  faint,  familiar  perfume  exuded  from  it 
as  he  shook  it  out.  In  an  instant  he  was 
pressing  it  rapturously  to  his  face.  It  was 
from  Wistaria.  Tenderly  turning  it  about  and 
enjoying  its  sweetness,  he  found  as  he  was 
smoothing  it  out  a  little  word  in  the  centre  : 

tt  r\       » 

Go. 

The  lover  became  pale  as  death.  He  read 
it  again,  then  repeated  it  aloud  —  "Go!"  Its 
meaning  was  plain.  He  did  not  doubt  for 
an  instant  from  whom  it  came.  That  one 


91 


i 


THE -WOOING  of  NWSTARIA 


little  word  from  her  explained  everything 
— the  change  in  her,  her  realization  that 
she  did  not  love  him,  and  this  silent  means 
of  telling  him  the  truth.  He  crumpled  the 
handkerchief  in  his  hand.  A  moment  later 
he  was  pacing  —  almost  running  —  up  and 
down  along  the  bank  of  the  silent,  mocking 
moat.  He  could  not  think.  He  could  only 
feel.  Then  he  threw  himself  prone  upon  the 
ground,  his  face  buried  in  the  long  grasses. 
He  was  smothering  and  choking  back  the 
hoarse,  terrible  sobs  of  a  man — one  who  had 
been  trained  in  the  inflexible  school  of  the 
samurai. 

The  day  passed  over  his  head.  The  sky, 
ruddy  with  the  setting  sun,  paled  gradually, 
until  it  seemed  as  though  a  veil  were  drawn 
softly  across  it.  Still  Keiki  gave  himself  up 
to  his  despair.  For  him  it  seemed  that  the 
sun  had  gone  out,  life  had  ceased. 

As  the  shadows  continued  to  spread  their 
batlike  wings  over  the  heavens,  darkening, 
darkening  the  skies,  until  only  an  impene- 
trable vault  of  darkness  dotted  with  myriad 
magic  lights  was  above  and  about  him,  he 
still  lay  there. 

A  rustle  disturbed  the  grass.  Possibly 
a  hare  running  by.  Keiki  heeded  it  not. 
Something  was  stirring,  moving  near  him. 
Mechanically,  dully,  he  listened.  Some  one 
had  lost  his  way  among  the  willows  and  with 
his  hands  was  feeling  his  way.  From  his 

w  92 


TfiE  .VJOOJNG  of? 


own  despair  Keiki  was  recalled  by  the  sudden 
acute  knowledge  of  possible  danger  to  this 
person  who  had  evidently  lost  his  way.  One 
false  step  towards  the  boggy  grass,  and  be- 
yond was  the  treacherous  moat,  whose  water- 
flowers  and  reeds  hid  its  dark  surface.  Sud- 
denly he  sprang  to  his  feet  and  called  out 
hoarsely  : 

"Who  is  the  honorable  one?" 

He  fancied  he  heard  a  cry.  He  ran  towards 
it,  then  stopped  short.  He  had  come  upon 
her  there  in  the  willows.  Her  kimono  shone 
out  startlingly  white  with  a  stray  moon-beam 
upon  it,  but  her  gown  was  not  less  white  than 
her  face,  which  stared  into  the  darkness  like 
that  of  a  statue. 

Slowly  he  went  to  her  as  though  drawn 
by  subtle,  compelling  hands.  Close  to  her, 
almost  touching  her;  he  did  not  speak,  be- 
cause he  could  not.  Bitter  words  had  sprung 
to  his  lips  only  to  die  before  birth.  He  per- 
ceived that  she  was  trembling  from  head  to 
foot.  Her  hands  stood  out  from  her  sleeves, 
each  finger  apart,  and  they  trembled,  quiv- 
ered, shook. 

With  an  inarticulate  cry  he  caught,  them 
in  his  own,  inclosing  them  warmly,  almost 
savagely,  in  his  grasp.  Then  his  voice  came 
to  him.  It  was  very  husky  and  strange. 

"Speak!" 

"Go!—  Go!" 

This  was  all  she  whisperingly  cried.     She 


93 


p  VJSTAPJA 

-%=  =£= 


kept  repeating  it  over  and  over  between  her 
chattering  teeth.  As  he  wound  his  arms 
about  her  shivering  form  he  found  that  she 
was  dripping  wet.  Could  it  be  that  she  had 
fallen  into  the  moat?  By  what  miracle  of  the 
gods,  then,  had  she  been  saved?  The  dark 
waters  were  so  deep  —  so  deepl 

"You  are  wet  and  coldl  You  have  met 
with  an  accident?" 

"No,  no,"  she  said.  "It  was  the  honorable 
grass  —  so  wet  —  so  cold,  like  a  lake.  I  crawled 
through  it,  on  my  hands  and  knees,  close  to 
the  moat." 

i        "  But  why  did  you  do  it,  why  did  you  do 
it?"     His  voice  was  imploring. 

"To  come  to  you.     To  be  with  you  —  to  —  " 

He  clasped  her  closer,  warmed  to  the  soul 
by  her  words. 

"Ah,  then  it  is  not  true,"  he  cried,  "and 
you  do  still  love  me,  Fuji-wara?" 

"Better  than  my  soul.  Better  than  my 
duty  to  the  gods,"  she  whispered. 

The  sound  of  her  voice  was  muffled.  Her 
words  literally  sighed  through  her  lips.  He 
could  not  comprehend  ;  he  knew  only  that  she 
loved  him,  had  come  to  him,  and  now  she 
was  all  water  -  wet,  pale  -  eyed,  and  trembling 
|  as  one  who  sleeps  with  fear.  And  because 
that  strange  voice  hurt  his  soul,  he  covered 
her  lips  with  his  hand.  She  made  no  re- 
monstrance, but  sank  into  his  arms,  almost 
as  if  she  had  fainted.  But  looking  down  he 


«* 


94 


TflE  n 


saw  her  eyes  were  wide  open,  shining  like 
dark  stars.  They  startled  him.  They  were 
like  those  of  a  dead  woman.  He  shook  her 
almost  roughly  in  his  fright. 

"Wistaria!  Speak  to  mel  What  is  it? 
Tell  me  your  trouble." 

"Trouble?"  she  repeated,  dazedly.  "Trou- 
ble!" 

Then  she  remembered.  She  grasped  his 
arm  till  her  fingers  almost  pierced  through 
the  silk  into  his  flesh. 

"You  must  go — go!  Go  quickly — run  all 
the  way.  Do  not  stop  one  moment — not  one 
little  moment." 

"Go  away?  Run?  What  are  you  say- 
ing?" 

"Listen!  In  a  moment,  perhaps,  I  may 
not  have  power  to  speak.  My  strength  is 
failing  me.  I  thought  you  would  obey  the 
word  I  sent  you.  But  I  saw  you  fall  down 
among  the  grasses,  and  all  day  long  I  have 
watched  from  my  window,  waiting,  waiting, 
m  waiting  to  see  you  depart.  No,  no — listen 
unto  me — do  not  speak.  I  escaped  the  vigi- 
lance of  my  jailers  —  my  executioners.  Oh, 
will  you  not  understand  ?  I  have  come  through 
perils  you  cannot  imagine  to  warn  you  —  to 
beg  you  on  my  knees  to  go  away  at  once. 
Hasten  to  Choshui!" 

Her  breath  failed  her.  She  had  been  speak- 
ing quickly,  in  sharp  gasps. 

"But  I  do  not  understand,"  he  said. 


95 


TOE  .WOOJNG  op 


"Your  prince  —  your  august  prince  is  in 
danger!" 

"What?" 

"The  Prince  of — the  young  Prince  Keiki," 
she  gasped. 

"The  young  Prince  Keiki!"  he  repeated, in- 
credulously. 

"Yes,  yes;  they  have  discovered  his  secrets 
— they  will  arrest  him  for  treason  and — " 

He  almost  shouted. 

"His  secrets!  The  cause!  Oh,  all  the 
gods!" 

"You  can  save  him.  There  may  be  time. 
They  will  take  him  and  cast  him  into  a  dun- 
geon and  kill  him!" 

"I  must  set  off  at  once,"  excitedly  he  mut- 
tered. "What  could  have  happened  in  my 
absence?" 

Her  shivering,  trembling  presence  recalled 
him.  He  was  distracted  at  the  thought  of 
leaving  her.  He  could  think  of  nothing  else. 
He  tried  to  see  her  white  face  in  the  darkness, 
but  could  only  trace  the  pale  outlines.  Sud- 
denly he  took  it  in  his  hands. 

"Fuji-wara,"  he  whispered,  in  a  voice  of 
mingled  love  and  agony.  "How  can  I  leave 
you?  How  can  I  do  so?  And  yet  you  would 
not  have  me  act  the  part  of  a  coward,  the 
false  traitor.  You  would  be  the  first  to  bid 
me  go." 

"Go,  go!"  she  cried,  releasing  herself  from 
his  hands  feverishly. 

f ffi         4  jfc  _  jfc,        r         — y 

96 


7WE.WOOJNG 


"And  you?" 

"  Lead  me  back  into  the  path.  I  shall  find 
my  way  horn  there." 

Leading  her,  he  questioned  anxiously: 

"There  is  danger  for  you  here,  Wistaria? 
Tell  me,  or  I  shall  not  depart." 

She  turned  the  question. 

"Last  night  there  was  a  slight  earthquake 
in  the  province.  There  is  always  danger. 
But  you  and  I  have  pledged  each  other.  For 
the  time  of  this  life  and  the  next,  and  as  many 
after  as  may  come,  I  will  be  your  flower-wife 
and  you  my  husband." 

At  parting  he  kissed  the  hem  of  her  kimono 
and  the  little,  water-soaked  foot  beneath. 


97 


WJSTAPJA 


-at 


HEN  the  tender  veil  of  the 
first  hours  of  the  morning  was 
raised  from  the  face  of  the 
sun,  the  early  light  revealed 
a  small,  still,  white  face  at  a 
window  where  the  morning- 
glory,  rising  from  the  midst 
of  spring  roses,  mingled  with 
the  wild  ivy  of  Japan,  clam- 
bered up  and  encircled  the  case- 

4  ment,  and  nodded  until  the 
blossoms  touched  and  caressed 
the  small,  dark  head.  The  eyes, 
darkly  overcast  with  ceaseless 

|  watching,  stared  out  through 
the  mist  of  the  morning,  across 
the  musk -laden  gardens  and 

.4.         j.      — ar= 


over  the  silent  moat,  trying  to  pierce  with 
the  vision  of  love  the  distance  beyond  the 
lines  of  the  province. 

Thus  all  night  long  had  the  delicate  Lady 
Wistaria  crouched  at  her  casement.  Did  the 
night  winds  stir  the  long  grasses  or  rattle  the 
boughs  of  the  trees  and  bushes,  the  young 
girl  started  and  trembled  with  unspeakable 
fear.  Did  the  steady  beat,  beat  of  the  wooden 
sandals  of  the  guards  at  the  palace  gates  for 
a  moment  cease  or  increase  their  rhythmic, 
orderly  tramp,  her  heart  bounded  up,  then  al- 
most stopped  its  beating.  The  slightest  sound 
or  stir  made  her  tremble  and  quiver.  Only 
the  nightingale,  softly,  piercingly,  ceaselessly 
singing  throughout  the  night,  comforted  and 
soothed  her  like  the  song  of  an  angel.  Under 
its  soothing  influence  she  had  fallen  asleep, 
with  her  little,  tired  head  upon  her  arms.  But 
even  while  she  slept,  she  sighed  and  trembled. 
Awaking  before  daybreak,  she  heeded  not  the 
shivering  breezes  of  the  passing  night,  but 
waited  for  the  sunlight. 

An  alert  guard  of  the  palace  gates,  after  the 
night  watch,  was  wending  his  way  through 
one  of  the  paths  which  led  out  of  the  grounds, 
when  he  thought  he  heard  some  one  calling 
his  name.  It  was  very  early.  But  for  the 
chirping  of  a  few  waking  birds,  the  gar- 
dens were  very  silent  and  still.  He  stopped 
short  in  his  walk  and  listened.  There  it  was 
again  —  a  woman's  or  a  child's  voice,  calling 


99 


TWE  BOOING  Of  VJ37APJA 


his  name,  softly,  almost  appealingly.  Turn- 
ing sharply,  the  guard  retraced  his  steps  down 
the  path,  looking  about  him  anxiously  as 
he  neared  the  palace. 

"0—  Yone!     Yone-yara!" 

He  turned  in  the  direction  of  the  voice. 

"O  —  Yonel  This  way!  It  is  I  —  your 
lady!" 

Then  the  guard  saw  the  Lady  Wistaria 
leaning  far  out  from  her  casement.  He  ran 
forward  and  dropped  on  his  knees,  touching 
the  earth  with  his  head. 

"Closer!  Still  closer!"  she  called,  in  a 
whisper. 

"Yes,  my  lady!" 

He  knelt  close  under  her  casement,  his 
head  bent,  and  respectfully  attentive. 

She  whispered. 

"I  wish  you  to  do  me  a  service;  will  you 
not,  Yone?" 

"Oh,  my  lady!"  was  all  the  young  man 
could  stammer,  out  of  his  eagerness  to  serve 
her. 

"I  know  you  are  tired  after  your  watch, 
and  it  was  long  —  so  long!"  She  sighed,  as 
though  she,  too,  had  kept  the  watch  with 
him. 

"No,  no!'  cried  the  young  guard,  hastily. 
"  Indeed  I  am  honorably  fresh,  my  lady.  Do 
not  spare  me  any  service." 

"  Then  do  you  please  run  as  swiftly  as  your 
honorable  feet  will  carry  you  to  the  home 


JOO 


of  Sir  Takemoto  Genji,  and  bid  him  hasten 
to  me  here  at  once,  without  one  moment's 
delay.  Now  hasten — do  not  wait!" 

Like  a  flash  of  wind  the  young  soldier 
had  sprung  to  his  feet,  had  leaped  across 
the  small  division  to  the  bridge  spanning 
the  moat,  and  was  speeding  through  the 
wooded  park  beyond. 

In  less  than  fifteen  minutes  the  samurai 
Genji  was  bending  the  knee  to  the  Lady  Wis- 
taria. 

"Thy  service,  my  lady!" 

"  Oh,  Sir  Genji,"  she  cried  out,  throwing  all 
caution  to  the  winds,  "I  am  in  such  dire 
trouble — such  fearful,  cruel  trouble  I" 

"Why,  my  little  lady?"  The  big  samurai 
was  on  his  feet,  regarding  her  with  amazed 
eyes. 

"Yes,  yes — I  know  it  seems  incredible  to 
you  that  I  should  have  trouble  of  any  sort, 
but  indeed  it  is  so,  and — " 

"  Are"  moshi,  moshil"  soothed  the  samurai, 
patting  her  hand  reassuringly. 

"  You  will  be  my  very  good  friend,  will  you 
not,  Sir  Gen?" 

"Friend!  Command  me  to  cut  myself  in 
half  and  I  will  do  so  at  once!" 

"Last  night,"  she  whispered,  "he—" 

He  nodded  comprehendingly,  certain  that 
only  one  "  he  "  could  exist  in  my  lady's  mind. 

"—he  escaped!"  she  gasped. 

"Escaped?" 


f 


101 


at  ffi 


"Oh,  you  know  —  you  know  of  whom  I 
speak." 

"  Yes,  yes — certainly ;  but  how  do  you  mean 
— escaped?  He  was  our  honored  guest,  was 
he  not?" 

"His  prince  is  my  father's  mortal  enemy. 
My  father  has  been  my  jailer  for  many  days 
now,  and  I — I  have  been  forced  to  cause  him 
to  betray  his  prince.  Oh,  will  you  not  un- 
derstand!" 

"  Hah !  It  is  all  quite  plain !  But  why  did 
3Tou  not  inform  me  sooner?" 

"Because  until  yesterday  my  father  kept 
so  constant  a  watch  over  me  that  I  could 
make  no  movement  he  would  not  have  per- 
ceived. But  do  not  ask  useless  questions 
now,  Gen.  Help  me.  Tell  me  what  to  do—- 
what to  do." 

"You  say  he  has  escaped?  When  and 
how  did  he  go?" 

"Last  night,  Gen.  I  climbed  down  the 
vine  of  the  casement  here.  See,  it  is  strong. 
My  father  for  the  first  time  had  not  been  near 
me  all  day,  and  I  thought  I  was  safe  from 
observation,  though  indeed  I  could  not  be 
sure.  But  I  went  to  him  and  warned  him 
of  the  danger,  and  he  has  gone  to  Choshui."  <: 

"That  is  very  well,  then." 

"But  my  father  may  know  the  truth  and 
will  track  him  through  the  woods.  I  cannot 
live  for  the  fear,  the  august  dread,  of  what 
may  befall  him." 

-  -  i  i_     .....  m= I =ar=: 

102 


THE  -WOOING  OF  VflSTARJA     n 

^         ^f-          x          -*•         I!K< 

"  Do  not  tremble  so,  my  lady.  Things  are 
not  so  dark  as  they  seem.  It  is  quite  im- 
possible for  your  father  to  have  overheard 
you;  he  left  Catzu  at  noon  yesterday." 

"  Ah !  Then  if  that  is  so,  it  will  be  too 
late  to  warn  the  young  Prince  Mori,"  she 
cried. 

"  But  do  not  think  of  this  prince,  my  lady. 
Be  happy  that  your  august  lover  is  safe." 

"  Oh,"  she  cried,  despairingly,  "  but  I  cannot 
have  the  death  of  this  innocent  prince  upon 
my  hands.  I  should  die  if  anything  happened 
to  him." 

"Well,  do  take  some  comfort,  my  lady. 
You  say  your  lover  departed  last  night.  Very 
good.  The  samurai  Shimadzu  left  yesterday 
at  noon.  Yet  the  young  man,  I  am  ready  to 
swear  by  my  sword,  will  be  the  first  to  reach 
Choshui." 

"Oh,  but  vengeance  and  hatred  will  lend 
wings  to  my  parent's  feet." 

"And  the  wings  of  vengeance  and  hatred, 
my  lady,  are  not  so  fleet  as  those  of  the  wings 
of  love.  Be  assured." 

"  Sir  Gen,  you  do  not  know,  you  would  not 
believe  all  I  have  suffered." 

Sir  Genji's  brows  contracted.  Ever  since 
he  had  followed  her  to  the  old  Catzu  palace, 
when  she  was  a  tiny,  bewitching  little  creature 
of  five,  with  laughing  lips  and  shining  eyes, 
a  flower  ornament  tumbling  down  the  side 
of  her  hair  and  a  miniature  kimono  tied  about 

— a _& &=. a     -^^c=^ 

103 


TOKJWOQJNO  of*  Vfl5TAR)A 

with  a  purple  obi,  she  had  been  his  favorite. 
He  could  scarcely  believe  it  possible  that  any 
one  could  be  cruel  to  this  beautiful  young 
girl.  His  looks  just  then  bode  ill  for  any 
one  who  should  cause  her  pain.  Never- 
theless, for  many  days  now  the  young  girl's 
chamber  had  been  not  unlike  that  of  an  in- 
quisitorial prison.  It  was  true  there  were 
no  thumb -screws  or  neck -halters  or  burn- 
ing-irons within,  but  there  were  instruments 
of  torture  more  refined  and  excruciating  in 
their  torture,  because  they  pierced  the  mind 
rather  than  the  body. 

If  the  girl  awoke  screaming  in  the  night, 
one  could  be  sure  that  some  creeping,  spying 
presence  had  entered  her  chamber  and  had 
grown  upon  the  consciousness  of  her  dreams, 
rudely  awakening  her  to  the  fearful  night- 
mare of  an  unseen  presence.  In  the  early 
morning  she  was  awakened  from  her  sleep  and 
forced  to  carry  on  those  nerve-shocking,  heart- 
breaking interviews  with  her  lover.  She  fell 
asleep  at  night  with  the  intuitive  knowledge 
that  one  watched  unceasingly  in  her  cham- 
ber. She  might  make  no  stir  or  movement 
unobserved. 

This  Sir  Genji  heard  for  the  first  time. 

"And  I  may  rely  on  you  for  the  future?" 
she  asked,  in  conclusion. 

The  samurai  raised  his  sword. 

"With  this,  gentle  lady,  I'll  serve  thee  and 
him,"  he  said. 

4  I  _ «fc-  IE  ^f~          ». 

104  U 


THE  BOOING  op  VflSTAPJA     n 


a; 


J 


Then  with  a  quick  movement  he  flung  the 
sword  to  the  ground. 

Three  days  passed  away.  She  seemed  like 
one  in  a  dream,  under  a  spell,  as  she  hung 
over  her  flowers.  Under  the  fruit-trees  she 
wandered.  Their  petals,  odorous  and  dewy- 
laden,  fell  around  and  upon  her  like  a  cloud 
of  summer  snow  -  flakes.  They  made  her 
quiver  with  memories  that  caused  her  pain. 
She  ran  through  the  grasses  away  from  them, 
her  little  feet  scattering  the  petals  before 
her,  seeking  the  banks  of  the  moat  far  away 
from  where  he  had  been  wont  to  stand  at  the 
dawning,  pleading  for  her  love. 

But  the  lotus  with  the  dew  in  its  cups  smiled 
but  to  weep.  She  threw  herself  down  by  the 
water's  edge,  and  swept  with  her  hand  the 
lotus  back  from  the  surface  of  the  water. 
The  flowers  at  her  touch  left  one  little  oval 
spot,  out  of  which  her  small  face  shone  up 
at  her  with  its  startled  eyes  of  tragedy.  She 
fancied  it  a  magic  mirror  wherein  the  face 
of  the  divine  goddess  of  mercy  was  reflected. 
So  she  prayed  to  the  goddess  very  softly, 
and  quite  as  one  whose  mind  has  been  over- 
weighted with  trouble,  for  peace  and  mercy 
for  that  wilful  and  foolish  Lady  Wistaria, 
whose  lover  had  passed  out  of  her  life  and 
gone  the  gods  knew  whither.  And  the  lips 
of  the  goddess  in  the  water  moved  in  sound- 
less response,  but,  "  He  is  gone— gone!"  said 
the  hapless  Lady  Wistaria. 

zzzan  - L  *       1 3= 

105 


TflE  . 


of  vflSTARJ  A     n 

- 


T 


HE  Lady  Wistaria  was  carried 
to  her  father's  home  at  night. 
There  was  no  gorgeous  cortege, 
no  gayly  bedecked  attendants 
or  retainers  to  bend  the  back 
and  knee  to  her.  She  travelled 
alone,  in  a  covered  palanquin 
borne  on  the  shoulders  of  hired 
runners,  beside  whom  the  tall, 
lank  figure  of  her  father  strode. 
They  set  her  down  in  the  heart 
of  the  city,  the  rest  of  the  journey 
being  made  on  foot.  When  she 
had  last  visited  her  father's 
home  he  had  carried  her  on 
his  back,  after  he  had  dis- 
missed the  palanquin,  for  she 

>  •  &~  X  *f . 


WJSTAPJA 


was  then  but  a  small  girl  of  ten.  Now  she 
walked  silently,  dumbly,  by  his  side.  As 
they  reached  and  passed  through  the  silent 
little  village  that  had  impressed  her  as  a 
child,  strange  fancies  flitted  in  and  out  of 
Wistaria's  mind.  There  was  none  of  that 
strange  up-leaping  of  the  heart,  experienced 
on  returning  to  a  home  not  seen  for  years. 
The  old  mystic  horror  and  fear  of  the  place 
had  taken  possession  of  Wistaria,  but  now,  with 
a  woman's  wide-open  eyes,  her  wonder  and  fear 
began  to  form  themselves  into  vague  fancies. 

Slowly  passing  along  the  silent,  spiral 
streets,  climbing  up  and  around  hillock  after 
hillock,  they  came  finally  before  the  small, 
whitewashed  house  with  its  dark,  empty,  cold 
interior.  The  old,  old  woman  who  had  fon- 
dled and  sung  to  the  child  Wistaria  came  hob- 
bling and  mumbling  to  the  door.  She  wept 
over  Wistaria's  hands,  caressed  them,  and 
drew  her  head  to  her  bosom  with  a  crooning 
laugh  that  was  almost  a  sob. 
l  "\  am  very  weary  and  would  fain  retire  at 
once,"  said  Wistaria,  as  she  returned  the  old 
woman's  caress. 

Madame  Mume  attended  Wistaria  tenderly 
towards  the  stairway  which  led  to  the  upper 
part  of  the  house.  But,  as  she  did  so,  Shi- 
madzu  called  to  his  daughter  in  his  hollow 
voice  of  command. 

"  Stay/'  he  said.  "  I  have  much  to  say  to 
you  to-night." 


TOE  .WOOING  of  NW5TAPJA 


Bowing  obediently,  if  wearily,  to  her  father. 
Wistaria  handed  her  cape  to  the  old  woman 
and  mechanically  followed  him  into  the 
ozashiki. 

"My  daughter,"  began  the  father,  "do  you 
know  where  you  now  are?" 

This  strange  question  surprised  Wistaria, 
but  she  replied,  with  a  gentle  smile: 

"In  my  honorable  father's  house." 

"That  is  true,  but  do  you  know  where 
your  father's  house  is  situated?" 

"No." 

"  Very  well ;  I  will  tell  you,  then.  My  house, 
though  seemingly  apart,  because  of  its  situa- 
tion on  the  hill,  is  built  in  the  heart  of  an 
Eta  settlement." 

"Eta?"  repeated  Wistaria,  mechanically. 
She  had  heard  the  word  somewhere  before, 
but  just  what  it  signified  her  mind  at  the 
moment  could  not  recall.  So  she  repeated  the 
word  again,  as  though  it  troubled  yet  fasci- 
nated her.  "Eta!— Eta!" 

"Eta,"  repeated  her  father.  "In  other 
words,  the  social  outcast,  the  despised  pariah 
class  of  Japan/' 

Then  silence  fell  like  a  swift,  blank  darkness 
upon  them.  Wistaria  trembled  with  a  creep- 
ing horror  she  could  not  fathom  or  grasp. 

Somewhere,  somehow,  vaguely,  dimly,  she 
had  heard  of  this  class  of  people.  Perhaps 
it  was  at  school.  Perhaps  her  aunt  had 
instructed  her  in  their  condition.  One  thing 

— y q. "»•         "X          ff — = 

108 


Of  WiSTAPJA 


£ 


1 


was  certain,  she  was  suddenly  made  aware 
of  just  what  the  one  word  Eta  signified. 

It  described  a  class  in  Japan  upon  whom 
the  ban  of  ostracism  and  isolation  had  been 
placed  by  an  inviolate  heritage  and  a  cruel 
custom.  So  virulent  and  bitter  was  the  prej- 
udice against  them  and  the  contempt  in 
which  they  were  held,  that  in  the  enumera- 
tions of  the  population  they  were  omitted  from 
the  count  and  numbered  as  cattle. 

Herded  in  separate  villages,  their  existence 
ignored  by  the  communities,  none  but  the 
most  degraded  tasks  were  assigned  to  them  — 
that  of  burying  criminals,  slaughtering  cattle. 
that  of  the  hangman  and  public  executioner. 

Whence  they  had  come,  why  they  were 
held  in  the  contempt  of  all  other  citizens, 
what  their  origin,  none  could  tell.  When 
had  there  been  a  time  in  the  history  of  the 
nation  that  they  did  not  exist?  Some  old 
histories  aver  that  they  were  originally  cap- 
tives from  the  great  Armada  of  the  Tartar  in- 
vaders who  dreamed  of  conquering  the  sacred 
realm.  Others  declare  that  they  were  the  de- 
scendants of  the  public  executioners  from  time 
immemorial  ;  and  again,  more  recent  students 
assert  that  they  were  descendants  of  the  fam- 
ily and  retainers  of  Taira-No-Masakado-Hei- 
shimo,  the  only  man  in  Japan  who  ever  seri- 
ously conspired  to  seize  the  imperial  throne 
by  armed  force.  Whatever  their  origin,  they 
were  the  outcast  people  of  the  realm.  They 


109 


WJSTARJA     H 


7ere  not  permitted  to  mingle  with  or  marry 

itside  of  their  own  class,  and  any  one  who 

ose  to  marry  among  them  must  either  surfer 
me  penalty  of  death  or  become  one  of  them. 

The  long  silence  which  ensued  after  Shi- 
madzu  had  spoken  the  word  Eta  was  bro- 
ken by  the  Lady  Wistaria. 

"And  why/'  she  asked,  with  a  tremor  she 
could  not  keep  from  her  voice — "why  does 
my  honorable  father  make  his  home  among 
this  outcast  people?" 

"Because/'  quickly  came  the  passionate 
response,  "your  honorable  father  is  an  Eta, 
as  is  also  my  lady  his  daughter/' 

Wistaria's  eyes,  wide  with  shocked  sur- 
prise, stared  mutely  up  into  her  father's  face. 
What!  she — the  Lady  Wistaria,  the  dainty, 
cultivated,  carefully  guarded  and  nurtured 
lady — an  Eta  girl !  Her  mind  could  not  grasp, 
would  not  hold  the  thought. 

"Listen,"  said  her  father,  slowly.  "I  was 
born  in  a  city  of  the  south,  the  seat  of  a  dai- 
mio  of  eight  hundred  thousand  koku.  My 
father's  house  stood  w:  thin  the  outer  forti- 
fications surrounding  this  prince's  castle.  I 
was  trained  in  the  school  of  the  samurai.  I 
grew  up,  honoring  and  swearing  by  this 
prince.  When  I  became  of  age  I  entered  his 
service.  No  love  of  man  for  woman  was  more 
persistent  than  my  loyalty  to  his  cause.  De- 
votion to  him  was  my  highest  ideal. 

"My  prince  had  a  bitter  rival  and  enemy. 


He  was  a  good  and  powerful  lord,  though  a 
Shogun  favorite.  This  lord  loved  my  sister 
and  was  loved  by  her.  In  an  evil  moment 
I  listened  to  her  entreaties,  and  forgot  my 
allegiance  to  my  prince  in  so  far  as  to  assist 
his  rival  to  win  and  wed  my  sister,  now  the 
Lady  of  Catzu.  Immediately  I  brought  down 
upon  my  head  the  bitterest  detestation  of  my 
own  prince.  I  was  assigned  to  the  poorest 
and  most  degrading  of  posts,  that  of  the  spy 
and  the  suppressor  of  petty  broils,  and  finally 
detailed  to  live  in  and  protect  a  certain  Eta 
settlement.  So  much  of  my  time  was  thus 
forcibly  spent  among  these  people  that  I  came 
to  study,  to  understand,  and  finally  to  sym- 
pathize with  them. 

"I  was  young,  as  I  have  said,  impression- 
able, and  I  had  been  trained  in  the  school 
of  chivalry.  It  fell  to  my  lot  to  be  the  pro- 
tector of  an  Eta  maiden  of  such  beauty  of 
person  and  purity  of  soul  that — " 

He  broke  off  in  his  recital,  and,  to  clear  his 
husky  voice,  raised  with  a  shaking  hand  a 
tumbler  of  sake  to  hR  lips  and  swallowed  it 
at  a  gulp.  He  began  again,  with  passionate 
fierceness.  His  eyes  glittered  with  inward  fire. 

"I  married  the  maiden!" 

With  a  sudden  little  sob,  Wistaria  moved 
closer  to  him  and  drew  his  hands  up  to  her 
lips. 

"My  mother?"  The  words  passed  her  lips 
as  a  quick,  burning  question. 


1 


in 


„    TOE.VOOilSGO/"  V13TAR1A 

"Thy  mother,"  he  repeated,  and  then  she 
saw  in  the  dim  light  of  the  room  the  great, 
shining  tears  roll  down  the  hard  crevices  in 
her  father's  face.  She  moaned  and  crept  closer 
to  him. 

"For  her  I  became  an  Eta  —  an  outcast. 
Do  not  shudder,  my  daughter.  Has  the  word, 
then,  so  evil  a  sound?  Then  I  perceive  you 
have  been  wrongly  bred  —  in  the  school  of 
prejudice.  The  Eta,  though  an  outcast,  is 
a  human  being — more  human,  indeed,  than 
many  of  our  disdainful  lords  who  ride  over 
their  heads  and  trample  them  like  insects  be- 
neath their  feet." 

"Tell  me  of  my  mother,"  she  whispered. 

"Of  her  antecedents  I  know  naught  and 
care  less.  Her  honorable  grandmother  still 
abides  here  in  my  house." 

"Old  Madame  Mume?" 

"Yes." 

"Continue.     Pray  do  so." 

"  After  my  marriage  I  was  cast  off  im- 
mediately by  my  prince,  my  titles  and  honors 
were  taken  from  me,  my  property  confiscated. 
For  all  this  I  cared  nothing.  I  was  content 
and  happy  to  be  left  at  peace  with  my  wife." 

His  long,  thin  fingers  clinched  and  un- 
clinched.  He  moistened  his  lips,  biting  into 
them. 

"Did  I  say  that  this  prince  under  whom 
I  served  was  arrogant  and  cruel?  Did  I  tell 
you  he  had  a  heart  of  flint  and  a  pride  so 

j.  X  %  3.  ^-       " 

112 


indomitable  that  he  would  not  brook  one  of 
his  samurai  being  other  than  of  noble  birth? 
Six  of  his  vassals,  the  most  graceless  and 
worthless  in  the  province,  to  humor  his  pleas- 
ure, undertook  to  seek  me  out  in  my  exiled 
happiness  and  engage  to  make  life  intolerable 
for  me.  Whether  their  actual  intention  was 
evil  or  not,  I  cannot  say;  that  they  wrought 
evil  is  all  I  know,  and  that  they  came  with 
the  express  knowledge  and  consent  of  their 
prince." 

Wistaria  observed  that  her  father  was  trem- 
bling so  violently  that  he  scarce  could  speak. 
She  pressed  his  hands  convulsively  within 
her  own. 

"  Speak  quickly,  my  father,"  she  implored. 

"  They  murdered  her,"  he  whispered,  hoarse- 
ly. "Curses  and  maledictions  upon  their 
souls  I" 


WJSTARJA 


T 


9 


HE  death  of  the  mother  of 
Wistaria  had  taken  place  the 
day  after  the  girl's  birth.  Her 
father  had  left  his  young  Eta 
wife  to  go  to  the  village  to 
purchase  medicines  and  food. 
She  was  in  the  care  of  her  grand- 
mother, who  was  old  and  weak, 
and  powerless  to  protect  her. 

The  Mori  samurai,  all  of  them 
in  a  state  of  savage  intoxica- 
tion, had  come  to  the  house 
demanding  and  calling  for  Shi- 
madzu.  They  had  been  drink- 
ing heavily  all  day,  and  swore 
they  would  have  their  final  cup 
with  their  former  comrade. 

!>.'..      .  4fe  .--  .A      .     ~"5r 

114 


WiSTAPJA 

^3 


When  Madame  Mume  assured  them  of  his 
absence,  they  insisted  upon  entering  the 
house,  and,  pushing  past  the  old  woman, 
straightway  took  possession  of  the  place. 
One  of  their  number  suggested  that  in  the 
absence  of  Shimadzu  they  must  be  enter- 
tained by  his  Eta  wife,  whereupon  the  oth- 
ers, taking  up  the  cry,  boisterously  began  to 
shout  for  the  hostess  of  the  house. 

Meanwhile  the  young  wife,  very  weak  and 
ill  from  her  recent  confinement,  listened  with 
feverish  excitement  to  the  loud  voices  and  the 
bedlam  of  noises  now  rattling  through  the  lit- 
tle cottage.  Fearful  for  the  safety  of  her  lord, 
in  a  moment  of  delirium  she  arose  from  her 
sick  bed  to  go  to  them,  staggering  through 
the  dividing  rooms  until  she  came  to  the  ribald 
debauchees. 

As  she  pushed  aside  the  sliding  doors  and 
stood  in  the  opening,  her  white  bed-robes  about 
her,  she  seemed  like  an  apparition.  A  sudden 
silence  fell  upon  the  revellers.  It  was  broken 
by  a  samurai  whose  sake  cup  dropped  from 
his  nerveless  hand  to  the  floor,  where  it  shat- 
tered into  fragments. 

The  next  instant  there  was  a  general  move- 
ment towards  the  figure  between  the  shoji. 
That  simultaneous,  half-savage  advance  seem- 
ed to  snap  the  last  vital  cord  in  the  woman. 
When  they  reached  her  she  no  longer  swayed 
between  the  shoji.  They  bent  over  her  in  va- 
rious attitudes  of  horror,  where  she  lay  prone 


jfr 


at  their  feet,  a  white,  crushed  thing  whose  deli- 
cate life  had  been  brutally  snuffed  out  forever. 

With  a  loud  cry  of  fear  and  dismay  they 
rushed  from  the  chamber,  out  from  the  house 
into  the  open  air,  where  their  befogged  brains 
still  seemed  to  behold  a  vision  of  an  avenging, 
pursuing  spirit. 

Hearing  the  wailing  cries  of  the  old  grand- 
mother while  he  was  yet  afar  off  from  the 
house,  Shimadzu  began  to  run  at  his  utmost 
speed,  a  premonition  of  disaster  forcing  itself 
upon  him.  Up  the  hillocks  he  sped.  A  mo- 
ment of  fearful,  striving  effort  and  he  was  be- 
side the  old  woman.  Something  froze  in  Shi- 
madzu, paralyzing  his  faculties.  Power  of 
speech  and  movement  was  gone. 

The  old  woman  caught  his  arm,  shook  it, 
and  gazed  with  her  fading  eyesight  into  his 
staring  eyes. 

"Master,  master!"  she  cried. 

He  only  stared  at  the  figure  upon  the  floor. 
The  old  woman  rushed  from  the  house,  shriek- 
ing and  calling  aloud  for  help.  Neighbors 
came  rushing  up  from  the  little  village  below 
and  began  to  fill  the  house.  They  tried  to 
arouse  the  stricken  samurai,  but  he  heeded 
them  not.  But  when  they  attempted  to  move 
the  young  wife,  a  strange  guttural  sound  of 
savage  protest  escaped  his  lips,  so  that  they 
dared  not  touch  her. 

Then  the  neighbors  mingled  their  cries  with 
those  of  the  old  woman,  and  the  house  of  w 

•4,  •"":•  ,£..-' 3&       •        ;""' "X  «T  "'     ^^~ 

116 


death  was  rendered  hideous  with  their  cease- 
less moaning  and  the  muffled  beating  of 
Shinto  drums. 

All  night  long  the  samurai  crouched  in 
that  paralyzed  attitude  by  the  side  of  his 
wife.  But  in  the  morning  strong  and  stout 
armed  men  from  the  village,  disregarding 
his  cries  of  protest,  lifted  the  body  of  the  wife 
upon  the  death -couch,  drew  the  lids  over 
the  staring  eyes,  closed  the  frothed  mouth, 
where  the  teeth  shone  out  like  small  white 
fangs,  and  folded  the  frozen  white  hands 
across  her  breast.  Then  the  samurai  came 
back  to  life — vivid,  horrible,  insane  life. 

Some  kindly  woman  brought  in  the  little 
Wistaria  and  held  her  towards  him  with  a 
pitying  exclamation,  knowing  that  this  little 
life  could  not  but  comfort  the  bereft  man. 
He  seized  the  child  wildly  in  his  arms.  Then 
holding  his  one-day-old  babe  over  the  dead 
body  of  his  wife,  he  swore  a  fearful  oath  of 
vengeance. 

From  that  day  the  samurai  had  but  one 
purpose  in  life,  but  one  hope  and  ambition: 
to  encompass  the  ruin  and  death  of  those  he 
deemed  the  murderers  of  his  wife.  It  hap- 
pened that  he  came  of  a  powerful  family,  who, 
in  all  his  troubles,  had  offered  him  their  sym- 
pathy and  would  gladly  have  received  him 
back  among  them  in  spite  of  his  marriage  to 
an  Eta  girl.  They  were  in  high  favor  at  court, 
and  now  they  carried  his  case  to  the  Shogun 

I-  jg       -a r=.         A, L- raE= 

117 


THE  .WOOING  o 


himself.  The  exiled  samurai  was  forthwith 
ordered  to  appear  before  the  Shogun,  who  had 
been  deeply  impressed  and  touched  by  his 
sorrows,  and  who  had  cause  for  prejudice 
against  his  former  lord. 

The  Shogun  offered  to  force  his  lord  to 
restore  to  the  samurai  his  estates  and  rank, 
but  Shimadzu  fiercely  refused  to  accept  these 
favors,  wildly  declaring  that  he  would  rather 
be  buried  alive  than  enter  the  service  of  such 
a  lord.  The  Shogun,  still  anxious  to  please 
his  family,  begged  him  to  make  some  re- 
quest which  it  would  be  in  his  power  to  grant, 
whether  for  service  under  another  lord,  or 
at  court  in  attendance  upon  his  own  person. 

"I  have  but  one  request  to  make,  my  lord," 
responded  the  samurai. 

"That  is?—" 

"To  be  made  the  public  executioner." 

All  these  things  the  Lady  Wistaria  now 
learned  for  the  first  time.  She  was  as  one 
struck  down  by  a  sudden  shock  of  grief.  In 
one  little  hour  she  had  fallen  from  a  great 
height,  and  had  learned  of  things  that  had 
caused  her  to  quiver  with  anguish  and  shame. 
She  could  not  at  once  share  the  thought  of 
the  father  whose  wrongs  haunted  him,  de- 
manding vengeance  and  justice.  She  thought, 
instead,  of  other  things.  She  was  the  daughter 
of  the  public  executioner,  the  hangman!  — 
an  Eta  girl  —  an  outcast!  The  odium  of  it 
all  crushed  her.  In  that  hour  of  agony 


1x8 


her  imagination  conjured  up  the  noble,  high- 
born face  of  her  lover,  torturing  her  soul  with 
its  infinite  distance  from  her.  She  knew  now 
that  he  was  as  far  beyond  her  reach  as  the  sun. 

"Shrink  not,  my  daughter,"  came  her 
father's  voice  harshly  upon  her  thoughts; 
"your  father's  hands  are  not  stained  in  the 
blood  of  any  of  his  fellow  -men  save  those 
who  were  his  by  divine  right.  To  underlings 
I  gave  the  punishment  of  the  public  criminal, 
but  to  myself  I  kept  the  sacred  task  of  seeking, 
tracking,  ruining,  and  killing  with  my  own 
hands  the  destroyers  of  my  house." 

"  Then,"  said  Wistaria,  in  a  strangely  plead- 
ing voice,  "  you  have  avenged  my  mother. 
All  is  done,  all  is  finished.  Oh,  my  father, 
let  us  forget  all  this  past,  and  go  away  where 
we  may  not  be  known  and  pass  our  days  in 
peace  until  the  end." 

"Nay,  all  is  not  done,"  replied  the  father. 
"  You  forget  that  while  I  have  had  the  holy 
joy  of  executing  the  six  murderers  of  my  wife, 
their  prince  still  lives." 

"Ah!" 

"Once  I  served  under  him,  honored  him 
above  all  men;  now  I  desire  nothing  else 
on  earth  but  to  bow  his  head  in  the  dust. 
He  is  a  great  prince,  beyond  my  reach,  but  I 
have  sought  and  found  a  better  means  of 
striking  at  him.  For  this  purpose,  my  daugh- 
ter, I  need  your  aid." 

"You  mean—"  she  began. 


119 


n 


"This  Prince  of  Mori  is  the  man.  Now 
you  understand.  His  heart,  his  whole  life, 
is  wrapped  up  in  his  son.  But  yesterday, 
my  daughter,  I  caught  that  son  in  the  trap 
which  I  set  through  you.  To-morrow  he 
pays  the  penalty  of  the  sins  of  his  father." 

Wistaria  tottered  to  her  feet.  Then  she 
fell  on  her  knees  and  crept  upon  them  to  her 
father. 

"Father,  dear,  my  father,  I  beg,  I  implore 
you  to  show  mercy." 

"For  whom  do  you  ask  mercy,  my  lady?" 
asked  the  father. 

"For  the  innocent — for  this  young  Prince 
of  Mori." 

"You — you  ask  mercy  for  this  prince! — 
you,  the  daughter  of  a  murdered  woman!" 
In  an  instant  she  was  sitting  up  stiff  and 
rigid. 

"My  lord,"  she  said,  "I  am,  indeed,  too  in- 
significant and  unworthy  to  be  thy  daughter, 
but  for  one  small  moment  I  did  forget  our 
wrongs  and  fain  would  have  spared  my  soul 
the  sacrifice  of  innocent  blood." 


J20 


ARLY  in  the  morning  the 
inhabitants  of  the  little  Eta 
village  were  startled  by  the 
unusual  sound  in  the  streets 
of  the  "clip-clop"  of  palanquin 
runners'  sandals.  The  Eta 
were  not  used  to  being  carried 
in  gilded  norimons,  or  of  trav- 
elling in  any  other  fashion 
than  on  foot.  Consequently, 
the  spectacle  of  an  exquisite- 
ly finished  norimon,  carried  on 
the  shoulders  of  liveried  at- 
tendants, created  as  much  stir 
as  it  is  possible  for  the  placid 
Japanese  to  manifest.  The 
bamboo  curtains  of  the  norimon 

a^_          I  J 

121 


were  closely  drawn.  The  runners  sped  swiftly 
along,  paying  no  heed  to  the  raised  shutters 
or  the  curious  eyes  at  the  wall  holes.  On 
either  side  of  the  palanquin  two  couriers  or 
personal  samurai  walked. 

The  runners  stopped  before  the  house  of 
Shimadzu,  and,  having  thrown  aside  the 
curtains,  bowed  low  as  they  backed  before 
a  veiled  lady,  who  stepped  from  the  norimon. 
The  lady,  however,  unmindful  of  her  bend- 
ing servitors,  hurried  up  the  gravelled  path- 
way to  beat  upon  the  door  with  her  delicate 
fists. 

The  early  morning  visitor  entered  the 
house  before  the  Lady  Wistaria  had  descended 
from  her  chamber.  When  she  threw  back 
the  covering  from  her  head,  the  proud  face 
of  the  Lady  Evening  Glory  appeared  with 
all  its  cold  beauty  and  strange  pallor.  Her 
lips  trembled  so  that  she  could  not  keep  them 
together. 

She  had  travelled  all  night  in  the  utmost 
haste  to  throw  herself  at  the  feet  of  her  brother, 
praying  his  mercy  for  the  young  Prince  of 
Mori.  She  did  not  wait  for  her  brother  to 
question  her,  but  began  at  once  a  pitiful,  dis- 
jointed tale  concerning  her  son  Toro.  i 

The  young  man  had  involved  himself  in 
great  trouble  in  the  Choshui  province,  and 
was  now  held  a  prisoner  by  the  Prince  of 
Mori.  Toro,  the  foolhardy,  imitating  the  ac- 
^  tions  of  the  young  courtier  of  the  Mori  clan, 

i-     ffi  <*$..  JL.  ^te~      •          JL •  n. 

122 


«  /V|Z.  «  w  —  -  41  1 W    "•!          *V«"S1  J/«\rvJJ"l  r* 

-  ±r  -j  rp  -^  1     , 

had  fared  badly.  Caught  scaling  the  walls 
surrounding  the  palace  of  the  father  of  the 
Lady  Hollyhock,  he  had  been  arrested  and 
brought  before  the  Prince  of  Mori.  This 
nobleman  had  at  first  intended  to  return  the 
young  fellow  to  his  neighbor  courteously, 
with  some  satirical  rebuke  which  would  scorch 
the  vanity  of  the  boy's  father,  but  just  at 
this  juncture  had  come  the  fearful  intelligence 
of  the  arrest,  secret  trial  for  treason,  and 
sentence  to  death  of  the  young  heir  of  Mori. 
The  old  Prince,  rendered  frantic  with  fear 
and  anguish,  despatched  word  immediately 
to  Catzu  that  unless  the  Prince  Keiki  were 
spared,  the  same  fate  should  be  meted  out 
to  the  young  Catzu  Toro. 

So  the  Lady  Evening  Glory  had  come 
now  to  her  brother  to  demand,  to  beg  the 
pardon  of  their  enemy,  this  young  Prince 
of  Mori,  while  her  husband  had  hastened 
to  Yedo  to  seek  the  aid  of  the  Shogun.  Never- 
theless, both  father  and  mother  knew  that 
the  fate  of  their  son  depended  not  upon  the 
august  Shogun,  but  upon  their  brother,  the 
samurai  Shimadzu,  for  the  Shogun  would 
scarcely  have  time  to  send  forces  to  compel 
Mori  to  release  Toro  before  the  execution  of 
Keiki  took  place,  which  would  be  undoubt- 
edly the  signal  for  the  immediate  despatch 
of  Toro. 

The  unexpected  answer  the  lady  received 
from  her  brother  stunned  her  so  completely 


TJfE-WQQJlNGpF  VJSTARlA 

that  she  was  robbed  of  all  hope.  Now  she 
suffered  in  turn  all  the  pangs  of  frantic  despair 
and  agony  that  her  niece  had  so  lately  under- 
gone through  her  agency. 

"What!"  cried  the  samurai,  with  stern 
derision,  "permit  the  consummation  of  the 
work  of  a  lifetime  of  misery  and  torture  to 
slip  through  my  aching  fingers  now?  Not 
for  a  thousand  nephews!" 

Yet  he  endeavored  in  his  rough  and  stern 
way  to  comfort  his  sister  with  these  strange 
words : 

"Catzu  Toro  is  of  samurai  blood.  It  be- 
hooves him,  therefore,  to  give  up  fearlessly 
his  life  for  the  honor  of  his  family.  He  ought 
to  bless  the  gods  for  the  opportunity." 

The  mother  wept,  prayed,  threatened.  All 
in  vain.  Shimadzu  was  inflexible.  Mean- 
while the  hour  which  had  been  set  for  the 
execution  of  the  young  Prince  of  Mori  ap- 
proached with  more  than  the  natural  speed 
of  time,  and  the  Lady  Evening  Glory's  cou- 
riers, the  samurai  Genji  and  Matsue,  waited  in 
agonized  impatience  for  word  of  truce  to  carry 
to  the  old  Prince  of  Mori. 

Finding  all  her  efforts  to  move  her  brother 
unavailing,  the  Lady  of  Catzu  sought  des- 
perately though  impotently  to  bar  his  egress 
from  the  room.  She  clutched  the  dividing 
shoji  which  opened  into  the  corridor,  then 
placed  her  back  against  them.  When  Shi- 
madzu turned  to  the  doors  on  the  opposite 


124 


TOE  . 


side  she  rushed  before  him,  and  again  sought 
to  prevent  his  departure.  Firmly,  but  not  un-  u 
gently,  Shimadzu  put  her  aside,  whereupon 
she  fell  down  at  his  feet,  clasping  her  arms 
about  his  legs,  while  her  lips  emitted  strange 
and  piteous  outcries. 

Yet  what  could  the  utmost  strength  of  a 
delicate  lady  do  against  that  of  a  samurai 
man?  With  one  quick  movement  he  freed 
himself  from  her  clinging  hands.  The  next 
moment  the  Lady  Evening  Glory  was  quite 
alone.  She  suddenly  realized  that  the  gods 
had  denied  her  all  succor,  and  crawled  across 
the  room  until  she  stood  in  front  of  the 
small  shrine  in  the  place  of  the  tokonona. 
There  she  prostrated  herself,  but  her  lips 
could  not  frame  themselves  in  petition  to  the 
gods. 

How  long  she  lay  thus  she  could  not  have 
told.  Gradually  she  became  conscious  that 
some  one  was  kneeling  beside  her,  and  that 
a  soft  and  tender  hand  was  smoothing  back 
the  wild  hair  that  escaped  about  her  face.  A 
gentle  voice  whispered: 

"The  gods  are  good — good!  Take  heart! 
They  will  not  desert  us !  The  gods  are  good  1 " 

Then  the  proud  Lady  of  Catzu,  raising  her- 
self to  a  kneeling  posture,  gazing  up  into 
the  bending,  pitying  face  above  her,  saw  her 
niece,  whom  she  had  so  vindictively  perse- 
cuted. Before  she  could  speak  one  word,  Wis- 
taria drew  her  hand  to  her  breast.  Then  the 


125 


bereaved  mother  gave  way  to  a  passion  of 
tears  of  weakness  and  despair. 

"You  are  calmer  now,  dear  aunt,"  said 
the  Lady  Wistaria  after  a  while.  "  Weep  no 
more,  I  pray  you.  But  try  rather  to  bring 
your  mind  to  think  clearly  with  mine.  We 
must  conceive  some  way  by  which  we  can 
outwit  my  honorable  parent.  We  have  yet 
two  hours  before  the  time  when  my  father 
will  depart  for — for  his  prisoner." 

But  the  after-effects  of  weeping,  great  sighs, 
rendered  the  Lady  Evening  Glory  speechless. 
She  could  only  shake  her  head  hopelessly, 
helplessly. 

"All  night  long,"  said  Wistaria,  "I  have 
kept  a  vigil.  I  have  thought  and  thought 
and  thought,  until  my  brain  has  seemed 
ready  to  burst.  I,  too,  my  lady,  have  yielded 
myself  to  such  despair  as  you  now  feel.  I 
suffer  more  than  the  pain  of  one  who  loses 
a  beloved,  for  I  am  tortured  with  the  knowl- 
edge that  I  am  guilty.  Oh,  lady,  was  it  not 
I  who  betrayed  this  prince,  and  would  I  not 
be  the  indirect  cause  of  dear  Toro's  death 
also?  Therefore  it  is  my  task  to  save  the  life 
of  this  prince,  if  that  can  be  done." 

"But  it  cannot — cannot,"  moaned  the  Lady 
Evening  Glory.  "Thou  knowest  not  thy 
father!" 

"And  yet,"  said  Wistaria,  slowly,  "I  have 
thought  of  one  way." 

"Anata!" 

u  "  126 


"  Tell  me  first,  my  lady,  is  it  not  so— that 
one  who  marries  an  Eta  is  forever  after  dis- 
graced— branded  ?" 

"Yes,  yes,  that  is  true— but— " 

"It  is  of  importance  that  I  know  all  this. 
Now  is  it  not  also  true  that  my  father's  chief 
ambition  is  to  break  the  pride  and  spirit  of 
the  old  Lord  Mori?" 

"Yes,  it  is  so,  it  is  so." 

"Then,  my  lady,  be  comforted.  Mayhap 
I  shall  find  a  solution  to  all  our  troubles/' 

Arising,  gently  she  took  her  arms  from 
about  her  aunt  to  hasten  into  the  adjoining 
chamber.  Her  voice  addressing  the  Madame 
Mume  came  to  the  Lady  Evening  Glory. 

"Tell  my  honorable  father,"  she  said, 
"that  I  beg  for  just  one  minute  of  his  hon- 
orable time." 

When  she  returned  to  her  aunt  her  face 
had  a  wan  little  smile  of  hope  on  it.  The 
samurai  Shimadzu  followed  her  into  the 
room.  Wistaria  prostrated  herself  before  him 
with  the  utmost  humility. 

"  You  have  asked  for  an  audience,  my  lady. 
Speak  quickly,  for  I  have  work  to  do  ere 
long." 

"  Honored  parent,"  said  Wistaria,  with  her 
eyes  upon  his,  "I  have  thought  much  upon 
what  thou  wert  pleased  to  tell  me  last  night." 

"Indeed." 

"  And,  my  father,  the  more  I  have  thought 
of  the  matter  the  greater  have  the  wrongs 

3~      -     "3,      "    ~1E=  1  J 

127 


NWST&fUA 

W     XI 


of  my  father  and  mine,  those  of  our  house, 
appeared  to  me  to  be." 

"Thou  speakest  now/'  said  the  samurai, 
quietly,  "as  becomes  an  honorable  daughter/' 

"Oh,  my  father,  so  deeply  do  I  feel  the 
wrongs  of  our  house  that  I  have  felt  that  even 
the  very  death  of  this  young  prince  would  not 
be  a  sufficient  vengeance." 

She  was  speaking  slowly  and  distinctly, 
so  that  each  sentence  should  take  effect  upon 
her  father. 

"Having  broken  the  heart  and  spirit  of 
my  enemy,"  said  Shimadzu,  "I  shall  have  ac- 
complished all.  It  will  be  sufficient,  and  my 
work,  my  duty,  will  then  be  consummated." 

"But  think  you,  my  father,  that  by  the 
killing  of  this  prince  you  will  indeed  have 
broken  the  heart  and  spirit  of  your  enemy?" 

"Ay!  For  I  shall  have  robbed  him  of 
that  thing  which  he  prizes  above  all  else  on 
earth — his  son!" 

"But  has  he  not  seven  other  sons  who 
would  quickly  fill  the  place  of  this  one?" 

"That  is  so.  Were  it  possible  for  me  to 
have  seven  instead  of  one  Mori  prince  for 
execution  this  day,  I  would  be  seven  times 
the  happier."  | 

"August  father,  you  have  taught  me,  and 
I  have  learned,  that  death  is  not  the  greatest 
of  sorrows  that  can  befall  us.  Execute  this 
prince  and  he  will  quickly  pass  into  another 
world,  where  the  fates  may  befriend  him.  (^ 

^f         .T          JR       .  i      — ar~ 
128 


TOE  .WOQJNG  of  VJS7APJ  A 


He  will  be  beyond  our  reach.  In  the  eyes 
of  his  parent  he  will  have  died  an  heroic  and 
exalted  death,  since  he  gives  up  his  life  for 
what  he  deems  a  noble  cause.  Oh,  my  father, 
in  all  the  empire  of  Japan,  what  Imperialist 
would  not  envy  him  such  a  death?  No,  the 
death  of  this  prince  would  be  inadequate  re- 
venge for  the  wrongs  we  have  suffered.  Far 
better  if  he  could  be  forced  to  live  so  that  he 
might  suffer  the  devils  of  pain  to  gnaw  at 
his  heart  all  the  rest  of  his  life." 

"Thou  wouldst  have  him  spared  for  pur- 
poses of  torture?" 

"Yes,  honored  father." 

"Thou  art  indeed  a  woman,"  said  the  sa- 
murai. "Yet  a  samurai's  sword  has  never 
been  turned  to  such  a  purpose." 

"That  is  right,  for  your  honorable  sword 
is  not  sufficiently  sharp,  my  father." 

"Thou  speakest  darkly,  my  daughter." 

"I  have  thought  darkly  of  our  wrongs, 
my  father.  I  have  found  a  more  refined  re- 
venge to  inflict  upon  this  prince,  one  which 
would  wound  him  more  deeply  than  the  death 
of  one  of  his  eight  sons." 

"Well,  and  what  is  your  revenge?" 

"  First  answer  me  this  :  What  would  be  the 
feelings  of  this  proud  and  arrogant  prince 
if  his  idolized  heir  were  to  be  guilty  of 
that  very  fault  for  which  he  exiled  his  sa- 
murai?" 

"What  fault?" 

-  3     ~        I  A-  1    -  J.  - 

129 


VJJSTAPJA 

JR. 


"  The  fault  of  marrying  into  a  degraded  and 
outcast  class." 

The  samurai  started.  Then  a  strange 
smile  flitted  across  his  thin  face. 

"His  pride  would  fall.  Such  a  calamity 
would  crush  —  bend  —  kill  him!" 

"True.  Then  if  his  pride  is  such,  let  us 
strike  at  it  before  his  heart.  I  think  I  see  a 
way  by  which  this  can  be  accomplished." 

"How?" 

"Bring  this  young  prince  hither.  Leave 
him  to  me!" 

"To  you!" 

She  went  very  close  to  her  father  and  raised 
her  face  upward  so  that  he  might  see  it  per- 
fectly. 

"Look  upon  me,  honorable  parent.  Am 
I  not  fair?  Bring  hither  this  son  of  an  evil 
prince,  and  in  twenty-four  hours  he  will  be 
ready  to  wed  an  Eta  maiden." 

"An  Eta  maiden!"  suddenly  shrieked  her 
aunt.  "Who?  Not—"  She  made  an  inde- 
scribable gesture  towards  the  girl. 

"I,"  said  Wistaria,  throwing  back  her 
head  —  "I  am  an  Eta  maiden,  my  lad}^."  She 
bowed  very  low,  then  moved  towards  the  door. 
Before  passing  out  she  turned. 

"I  go,"  she  said,  "to  garb  myself  in  the 
dress  of  an  Eta  maiden.  But  do  not  believe, 
my  lady  aunt,  that  I  shall  have  lost  that 
beauty  with  which  the  gods  have  blessed  me, 
and  with  which  I  shall  win  and  wed  this  Mori 


=:= 


130 


TflE  . 


4 


prince  to  the  disaster  of  his  household  and 
the  triumph  of  my  father's." 

With  that  she  was  gone  from  the  room. 
They  heard  her  light  feet  flying  up  to  her 
chamber  above. 

"It  will  crush—  bend—  kill  the  father!"  mut- 
tered the  samurai,  softly.  "It  is  well!" 

"It  is  well!"  repeated  his  sister,  but  in  a 
different  tone. 


VJSTAPJA 


HE  young  Prince  of  Mori,  no 
longer  the  Shining  Prince  Kei- 
ki,  lay  huddled  in  a  corner  of 
his  dungeon.  Vainly  he  had 
thrown  his  weight  against  the 
stone  doors,  only  to  rebound, 
baffled  and  bruised.  Vainly  he 
had  called  in  piercing  ac- 
cents for  help.  There  came  no 
response  from  man  or  gods. 
Only  his  frantic  voice,  fleeing 
like  the  wind  through  the  pas- 
sage-ways of  the  empty  prison, 
dark,  damp,  and  for  long  un- 
used, seemed  to  call  back  to 
him  in  the  mocking  tones  of  a 
demoniac. 

i£="  t      — 377-7 

132 


j; 


A  prisoner!  A  prisoner!  He,  the  heir  of 
Mori,  the  hope,  the  idol  of  the  brave  Impe- 
rialists, the  son  of  the  most  powerful  prince 
in  all  Japan,  barring  not  even  the  Shogun 
himself !  A  prisoner !  Penned  like  a  common 
criminal  within  the  stone  walls  of  a  loath- 
some dungeon!  It  could  not  be  true.  It 
was  a  hideous  nightmare,  caused  by  that 
terrible,  ceaseless,  excruciating  pain  in  his 
head,  and  the  mad  turmoil  in  his  brain. 

He  had  been  captured  on  the  outskirts  of 
his  father's  province.  He  was  alone,  with 
not  one  vassal  or  retainer  in  attendance  upon 
him.  He  had  made  the  wildest  resistance. 
More  than  one  samurai  paid  with  his  life 
for  the  capture  of  the  Shining  Prince.  Over- 
powered by  such  numbers  that  it  seemed  mad- 
ness not  to  yield,  Keiki  could  not  be  taken 
while  a  spark  of  life  remained  in  him  with 
which  to  resist.  Only  when  he  was  beaten 
quite  senseless  were  the  Shogun's  officers  and 
the  Catzu  samurai  able  to  capture  the  Prince. 
Even  then  many  of  the  samurai  refused  the 
inglorious  task  of  carrying  away  the  young 
Prince,  who  had  fought  against  them  with 
such  desperate  bravery.  To  drag  his  uncon- 
scious, bleeding,  helpless  body  before  his 
judges  would  be  beneath  the  dignity  of  a 
samurai.  So  the  office  was  assigned  to  some 
of  the  Shogun's  spies. 

When  Keiki  had  returned  to  conscious- 
ness he  was  as  one  in  a  dull  dream,  a  night- 

~&  133 


n 


mare,  wherein  painful  events  wove  a  net  about 
him  from  which  he  could  not  stir  or  move  to 
save  himself. 

The  trial  had  been  a  brief  one.  A  few  ques- 
tions, a  multitude  of  proofs,  irrefutable  evi- 
dence, the  testimony  of  some  false  samurai 
now  become  a  ronin,  a  private  statement  by 
the  samurai  Shimadzu  —  that  was  all.  No 
word  or  question  whatever  was  addressed  to 
the  prisoner,  nor  was  he  given  the  oppor- 
tunity to  speak  in  his  own  defence,  had  he 
been  in  a  condition  to  do  so.  He  stood  be- 
tween two  guards,  one  on  either  side,  while 
four  others  stood  before  him  and  a  score  at 
his  back. 

Keiki  was  quite  beyond  understanding 
the  proceedings,  and  only  the  Spartan  will 
of  the  samurai  lent  to  him  that  almost  un- 
natural strength  by  which  he  stood  stoutly 
upon  his  feet  while  his  head  swam.  Out  of 
a  multitude  of  surging  words  and  sentences 
only  one  word  reached  his  ears  and  penetrated 
to  his  consciousness  — 

"Treason!" 

And  the  word  called  up  a  haunting  memory 
of  a  dark  and  stagnant  moat  wherein  the 
sacred  lotus  blossoms,  symbolic  of  the  purity 
of  woman,  hid  the  treacherous  waters  be- 
neath, of  a  sloping  bank  where  the  grasses 
grew  high  over  his  head,  and  the  willows  at 
the  bottom  waved  in  a  foot  of  water.  A  young 
girl's  face  shone  out  of  this  strangely  mixed 


134 


of? 


background.  It  was  very  long  ago,  it  seemed 
to  Keiki,  and  though  her  face  was  quite  dim 
to  his  vision  now,  he  remembered  that  it  was 
like  unto  the  lotus,  perfectly  pure  and  peer- 
lessly beautiful,  only  behind  her  beauty,  un- 
like that  of  the  lotus,  there  were  no  treacherous 
deeps  of  darkling  waters.  Keiki  remembered 
vaguely  now  that  she  had  crawled  through 
the  willows,  through  the  moat,  perhaps,  to 
come  to  him  to  warn  him  of  this  treason. 
Treason?  Whose? 

Thus  Keiki 's  tangled  mind  followed  not 
the  mockery  of  the  trial,  nor  heeded  the  sono- 
rous voice  of  the  crier,  who  echoed  the  words 
of  the  Lord  Judge,  and  shouted  mechanically : 

"Guilty!     Death!" 

A  small  company  of  armed  men  led  him 
from  the  judgment-hall.  They  made  a  long 
journey,  marching  by  night.  Passive,  stupid- 
ly indifferent  to  everything,  Keiki  was  led  to 
prison. 

Only  when  they  had  locked  him  within  the 
empty  stone  cell,  did  the  old,  passionate  re- 
bellion that  had  swayed  him  so  savagely 
when  he  had  resisted  capture  break  out  with 
renewed  fury,  driving  in  a  flash  his  apathetic 
dulness  from  him. 

His  captors  had  taken  his  two  swords  from 
him,  the  two  proud  swords  from  which  a 
samurai  must  never  part.  The  Prince  was 
to  become  lord  over  the  samurai,  yet  he  had 
been  trained  in  the  same  school,  and  with  as 


*>    —3 ^ 


135 


THE -WOOING  OP   WI^JAUVI*       n 

severe  a  discipline  as  that  of  the  simple  soldier. 
Had  they  left  him  these,  his  samurai  swords, 
in  all  probability  the  Prince  would  have  ended 
his  misery.  As  it  was,  he  spent  the  night 
in  fruitless,  impotent  raving.  Morning  found 
him  exhausted.  Even  the  samurai's  great 
power  of  will  over  the  physical  body  could 
avail  him  no  longer. 

When  the  samurai  Shimadzu  unlocked  the 
door  of  the  cell  no  desperate,  wild-eyed  prince 
leaped  at  his  throat.  The  young  Prince  of 
Mori  lay  stretched  across  the  floor  of  the 
dungeon.  The  glittering  cords  of  his  coat, 
the  golden  hip-cape,  with  its  billowings  and 
embroiderings  of  dragons  and  falcons,  all 
the  late  luxurious  finery  which  had  earned 
for  him  the  sobriquet  of  "The  Shining 
Prince,"  and  which  were  also  the  insignia 
of  his  high  rank,  were  now  torn  and  stained 
with  the  cruellest  of  colors.  The  dark  hair 
fell  back,  clotted  with  the  perspiration  on  his 
noble  brow,  from  which  the  blue  veins  start- 
ed through  the  fine  skin.  The  long  lashes 
covered  the  eyes  and  swept  the  almost  boyish 
curves  of  the  death -white  cheeks.  His  lips 
were  parted,  and  he  was  still  raving,  but  in 
the  babbling,  weak,  piteous  fashion  of  one 
|}  delirious  from  loss  of  blood. 

After  feeling  the  Prince's  hands  and  head, 
Shimadzu  was  satisfied  with  his  condition. 
Roughly  binding  up  a  bad  wound  upon  the 
shoulder,  he  called  for  a  stretcher.  Borne 

t— #•       *l  JL  qfe-  f          £- 

**  136 


TfiE  .VOTING  Of 


upon  this  temporary  couch,  straightway  the 
Prince  was  carried  to  the  home  of  the  execu- 
tioner. 

Meanwhile  Wistaria  had  made  ready  for 
the  reception  of  their  expected  guest.  Hav- 
ing taken  off  her  silken  omeshi  and  removed 
the  jewelled  ornaments  from  her  hair,  she  ap- 
peared in  a  rough  cotton  kimono,  of  a  bright 
red-and-yellow  pattern,  such  a  garment  as  a 
laboring  woman  or  one  of  the  heimin  would 
have  worn.  But  she  had  taken  especial  pains 
with  her  hair  and  face.  The  shining,  dark 
locks,  which  formed  such  a  charming  frame 
for  her  beautiful  face,  were  spread  wide  and 
folded  back,  so  that  their  beauty  might  be 
exaggerated.  Because  she  was  pale,  as  one 
about  to  die  rather  than  to  wed,  she  had 
rubbed  upon  her  cheeks,  chin,  and  brow  bra- 
zen red  paint,  something  previously  she  would 
have  scorned  to  touch.  Instead  of  brighten- 
ing the  pallor  of  her  face,  however,  it  only 
heightened  its  haggardness. 

Wistaria  sat  in  the  centre  of  the  chill,  empty 
guest-room.  She  was  smiling.  '  She  had  been 
smiling  ever  since  she  had  descended  from 
her  chamber.  Her  eyes  were  glassy,  and 
shared  not  in  that  forced,  blighting  smile 
which  she  wore  upon  her  lips.  Very  still, 
like  an  automatic  puppet  with  the  works 
unwound  within  it,  she  sat. 

The  Lady  Evening  Glory,  on  the  other 
hand,  flitted  back  and  forth  like  a  restless 


137 


771E  »^V  *" r  ^  I II V  **| '      VVJ^>  J  /«\JX  I M 

rg      — 


spirit.  Sometimes  she  paused  by  the  little, 
waiting  figure,  stroking  the  shining  head.  ,c 
But  in  her  heart  the  proud  Lady  of  Catzu 
had  little  sympathy  for  the  one  who  was  to 
be  sacrificed  to  the  vengeance  of  a  samurai. 
When  she  recalled  that  her  niece  was  renounc- 
ing her  lover  to  whom  she  had  pledged  her- 
self to  all  eternity,  she  thought,  with  the  selfish 
egotism  of  one  who  has  outgrown  her  own 
heart,  that  in  marrying  a  prince,  even  though 
she  won  him  by  trickery,  certainly  her  niece 
would  be  faring  better  than  if  she  had  be- 
stowed herself  on  one  of  his  vassals. 

Then,  too,  Wistaria,  after  all,  was  merely  a 
female — an  Eta  maiden.  So  the  lady's  self- 
ish mind  fed  itself  upon  one  thought,  mingled 
hope  and  suspense  for  the  fate  of  her  son. 

When  the  sound  of  tramping  feet  were 
heard  without,  the  Lady  Wistaria  did  not 
stir,  but  the  cold  and  stately  Lady  of  Catzu 
went  rushing  across  the  room  to  fling  herself 
against  the  window.  The  tramp  of  feet  grew 
louder,  deeper,  heavier.  They  smote  upon 
Wistaria's  ears  like  the  beat  of  Shinto  drums 
at  a  funeral.  Still  she  did  not  stir,  not  even 
when  the  doors  of  the  house  were  pushed 
wide  apart  and  the  tramping  feet  entered, 
passed  through  the  outer  room,  and  then 
into  the  guest-room.  The  set  smile  upon 
her  face  deepened.  Wistaria  laid  her  head 
to  the  mats,  prostrated  herself  in  exquisite, 
humble  greeting. 

=4-          -  Jfc.  •  g~  •    •        I  3 

138 


TOE  »VQO])NG  op  \flS7APv)  A 

"*^         •%  "^fr"  •  ••     -3?^"       j[   "  T[ 

Thus,  for  some  time,  she  courtesied  low. 

Some  one  pulled  her  sleeve.  She  sat  up 
and  stared  at  the  figure  on  the  stretcher. 
They  had  set  it  down  beside  her  on  the  floor. 
Somewhere  in  another  part  of  the  house  she 
heard  dim  voices,  above  them  all  her  father's 
deep,  hollow  voice,  sounding  strange — clear. 

A  sort  of  awe  and  horrible  reverence  fell 
upon  her  as  she  clutched  her  aunt's  hand. 
Then  the  two  half  crept,  half  crawled,  close 
to  the  stretcher.  Wistaria  looked  at  the 
face,  looked,  and  looked,  and  looked  again. 
A  heart-rending  shriek  burst  from  her  lips. 
She  fell  across  her  lover's  body,  spreading 
the  wings  of  her  sleeve  over  and  about  him, 
as  though  to  shield  and  protect  him  from  all 
harm. 


WiSTARIA     n 

1 — tea 


ROTHER,  you  were  surely 
blind  that  you  did  not  recognize 
your  prisoner,"  said  the  Lady 
Evening  Glory,  after  the  lovers 
had  been  carried  from  the  room. 

"His  appearance,  my  lady, 
had  no  interest  for  me." 

"Now  that  you  are  aware 
he  is  her  lover,  what  then?" 

"All  that  is  very  fortunate. 
J  Whatever  doubt  I  may  have 
felt  as  to  my  daughter's  ability 
to  ensnare  this  Mori  prince 
into  marrying  her  is  now  set 
at  rest.  She  already  possesses 
his  affection.  Nothing  remains, 
therefore,  to  be  done  save  to 


140 


bring  about  their  early  union.  This  shall  be 
effected  just  as  soon  as  the  young  man  re- 
gains sufficient  strength.  Meanwhile  —  " 

"Meanwhile?" 

"You  have  permission  to  despatch  word 
to  Choshui  that  a  delay  has  been  granted 
to  the  Prince.  This  will  keep  them  for  a  time 
from  attacking  Catzu  Toro.  Also,  the  shogun- 
ate,  availing  itself  of  the  time  to  march  upon 
Choshui,  will  rescue  your  son." 

"  But  will  not  the  Mori  immediately  retaliate 
by  sending  troops  here  to  attempt  the  rescue 
of  their  own  prince?" 

"Not  so,  since  the  whereabouts  of  their 
prince  is  entirely  unknown  to  them.  As 
you  are  aware,  his  trial  was  in  secret.  Only 
the  shogunate  is  acquainted  with  his  present 
abode.  The  secret  will  be  guarded,  rest  as- 
sured. In  fact,  for  the  very  purpose  of  fore- 
stalling any  such  attempt  on  the  part  of  the 
Mori,  they  have  placed  at  my  service  a  compa- 
ny of  soldiers  and  a  large  number  of  spies." 

"What  are  your  intentions  with  regard 
to  this  Mori  prince?" 

"  He  shall  marry,  as  you  already  know,  the 
Lady  Wistaria,  and  in  that  way  will  become 
an  outcast,  both  legally  and  morally." 

"And  after  their  marriage?" 

"Immediate  notification  of  the  fact  to  his 
father." 

"And  after  that?  What  of  the  order  from 
the  shogunate  touching  his  execution?" 


141 


THEJWOQIINGQ/*  WISTARIA 


"It  shall  be  destroyed.  I  have  given  my 
promise  to  my  daughter." 

"  But  when  this  fact  reaches  the  shogunate 
people  they  will  resent  it,  and  will  never  permit 
so  valuable  a  prisoner  to  escape  them.  They 
will  send  troops,  if  necessary,  to  take  him  from 
you.  In  the  event  of  your  refusing  to  execute 
him,  they  will  find  another  who  will  do  so." 

"  Very  well,  let  them  do  so.  I  have  no  doubt, 
however,  that  the  Prince  Keiki  will  escape 
them.  But  having  become  an  outcast,  he 
will  be  useless  as  an  Imperialist  leader." 

"Which  does  not  alter  the  fact  that  the 
Shogun's  men  will  continue  to  fear  him. 
Even  now,  you  say,  their  spies  and  soldiers 
are  lurking  about  on  all  sides.  I  tell  you  it  is 
quite  impossible  for  him  to  escape  them  now." 

"Well,  all  that  is  his  affair,  my  lady.  So 
far  as  I  am  concerned,  on  the  day  of  his  Eta 
marriage  I  shall  destroy  the  order  of  execu- 
tion." 

"Which  would  be  a  criminal  act,  and  one 
that  would  place  you  under  the  ban  of  the 
law." 

"That  is  true,  but  I  shall  answer,  I  assure 
you,  for  whatever  unlawful  acts  I  have  com- 
mitted during  my  lifetime  to  a  higher  tribunal    1 
than  any  that  could  be  formed  by  the  august 
shogunate." 

"Brother,  what  do  your  words  imply?" 

"Sister,  I  cannot  answer  that  question  yet. 
When  my  purpose  in  life  is  accomplished  you 


142 


THE  .WOOJNG  op  WJSTAPJA 


shall  have  the  answer.     And  after  that,  will 
you  perform  a  favor  for  me?" 
"Certainly." 

"The  Lady  Wistaria  will  be  alone." 
"Alone?  She  will  have  a  husband." 
"She  will  be  alone,  I  repeat.  Do  you  sup- 
pose I  should  rest  peacefully  in  my  grave 
with  the  knowledge  that  the  blood  of  Mori 
was  mingling  with  my  own?  I  repeat  once 
more,  my  daughter  will  be  quite  alone,  sister. 
Be  gentle  with  her,  and  as  tender  and  kind 
as  it  is  possible  for  one  woman  to  be  to  an- 
other. She  will  not  lack  for  worldly  wealth, 
for  I  shall  leave  her  a  fortune.  I  do  not  wish 
her  to  return  to  Catzu.  I  desire  that  a  small 
temple  shall  be  built  for  her  somewhere  in  a 
quiet  and  remote  region.  There  I  wish  her 
to  become  a  high  priestess,  to  devote  the  re- 
mainder of  her  life  to  works  of  holiness  and 
charity.  In  this  way  she  will  atone  for  the 
many  sins  of  her  father,  and  the  gods  will 
listen  to  her  prayers  and  show  charity  to  his 
soul." 

"Oh,  brother,  from  your  words  I  begin  to 
have  lamentable  fears  that  you  contemplate 
committing  some  frightful  harm  to  your- 
self." 

"We  are  children  of  the  same  father,  my 
lady.  Your  words  surprise  me.  Surely  they 
are  unbefitting  one  of  your  blood  and  rank. 
Do  you  see  any  disgrace  in  my  contempla- 
tions? I  would  rather  wish  that  you  would 

—  A  .1  -  ^—  -  1  -  ?£=• 


'JO 


f  VJSTARIA 


urge  me  to  that  deed  you  appear  to  dread,  for 
otherwise  my  life  would  be  without  honor. 
Therefore  lay  aside  your  unworthy  fears  and 
assure  me  that  you  will  carry  out  my  wishes." 

"I  shall  do  so,  ani-san"  (elder  brother),  she 
replied,  somewhat  brokenly. 

"That  is  all,  then.     Why  do  you  wait?" 

"  For  a  letter  signed  by  you  as  executioner, 
stating  that  the  execution  has  been  postponed 
indefinitely.  We  must  put  Toro's  safety  for 
the  next  few  days  beyond  a  doubt/' 

Hastily  writing  a  few  words  upon  paper, 
the  samurai  handed  it  to  his  sister,  who  seized 
it  eagerly.  Then,  having  examined  the  scroll 
carefully,  she  murmured  a  few  words  of  thanks 
and  prepared  to  leave  the  room.  The  samurai 
stayed  her. 

"  One  moment.  By  whom  do  you  send  this 
paper  to  Choshui?" 

"I  have  two  couriers." 

"Well,  but  one  of  these  samurai  must  at- 
tend you  to  Catzu." 

"Certainly." 

"Then  only  one  can  be  sent  to  Choshui." 

"But  why  so?  I  shall  not  leave  here  until 
my  couriers  .return  with  intelligence  as  to 
the  fate  of  my  son." 

"I  can  assure  you,  my  lady,  that  your 
couriers  will  not  return,  and  I  should  advise 
you  to  part  with  but  one  of  the  two  samurai 
attending  you." 

"Why—?" 

"—37    '         X  *•  1    '      —  3  - 

144 


WJSTAPJA 

: 3*        -UZ 


"The  Mori  people  will  not  let  this  courier 
depart,  rest  assured,  unless  he  divulge  the 
hiding-place  of  their  prince.  This  no  samurai 
would  ever  do.  If  your  courier  has  not  the 
wit,  therefore,  to  deceive  the  Mori,  I  am  very 
much  afraid  his  life  will  be  endangered  by 
this  undertaking." 

"And  what  samurai,"  inquired  the  lady, 
quickly,  "would  not  welcome  the  chance  of 
thus  giving  up  his  life  in  the  service  of  his 
lord?  What  I  have  to  decide  now  is,  which 
of  the  two  samurai  to  send,  for  each  will  claim 
the  privilege  of  the  undertaking." 

"What  are  their  names?" 

"Sir  Nishimua  Matsue  and  Sir  Takemoto 
Genji.  The  former  has  been  in  my  lord's 
service  for  twenty  years,  and  is  so  trusted 
by  him  that  whenever  I  am  forced  to  travel 
alone,  as  at  the  present  time,  my  lord  intrusts 
me  to  his  especial  care.  You  are  already  ac- 
quainted with  the  history  of  the  other,  Sir 
Genji.  He  was  one  of  your  own  comrades  in 
Choshui,  but  after  your  exile  he  deserted  the 
Mori  and  became  a  ronin.  Afterwards  my  lord 
pressed  him  into  our  service,  and  he  became  at- 
tached personally  to  Lady  Wistaria.  You  will 
see,  therefore,  that  it  is  a  difficult  matter  for  me 
to  choose  between  these  two  brave  gentlemen." 

"Not  at  all.  There  is  not  the  slightest 
doubt  in  my  mind  as  to  which  is  the  most 
fit  for  the  service.  Bid  the  samurai  Genji 
come  hither,  if  you  please." 

— 3    —    ,o sk-        j       —a 

145 


A  few  minutes  later  the  big  samurai  Genji 
and  Shimadzu  were  bowing  deeply  to  each 
other.  From  their  low  bows  of  silent  courtesy 
it  was  hard  to  believe  that  these  two  men 
had  once  been  the  closest  of  friends  and  com- 
rades in  arms.  Now  they  met  again  after 
many  years  of  separation,  yet  neither  ex- 
hibited that  emotion  which  lay  at  the  bot- 
tom of  their  hearts.  Shimadzu  did  not  even 
allow  opportunity  for  the  usual  exchange 
of  compliments,  but  went  straight  to  the 
point. 

"My  good  friend,  your  lady,  my  honorable 
sister,"  said  he,  "has  an  august  mission  for 
you  to  perform,  but  one  fraught  with  exceed- 
ing great  danger,  and  of  a  delicate  and  diplo- 
matic nature  withal." 

The  samurai  bowed  calmly,  as  though  the 
fact  of  the  danger  were  as  indifferent  a  matter 
to  him  as  the  mission  itself. 

"In  fact,  she  wishes  you  to  carry  word  to 
Choshui  of  the  postponement  of  Prince  Keiki's 
execution.  I  need  not  point  out  to  you  the 
dangers  of  such  a  mission.  The  Mori  will 
insist  upon  your  revealing  the  place  of  im- 
prisonment of  their  prince,  and  upon  your 
refusing  to  do  so  will  take  drastic  measures 
to  compel  you.  These  perils,  however,  will 
be  to  your  liking,  I  am  sure." 

"To  my  liking,  that  is  so,"  said  Genji, 
"but—"  ' 

"What?"    interrupted    the    Lady    Evening 


146 


Glory.  "You  hesitate!  You  do  not  set  off 
at  once!" 

"I  do  not  hesitate,  my  lady,"  replied  the 
samurai,  bowing  respectfully.  "  I  refuse.  I  do 
not  set  off  at  once  because  I  am  not  going." 

The  Lady  Evening  Glory  could  scarcely  be- 
lieve her  ears.  Never  in  her  memory  had  a 
samurai  refused  to  do  the  bidding  of  his  lord 
or  lady.  That  Genji,  of  all  samurai,  should  do 
so,  astounded  her.  Nevertheless  she  brought 
herself  to  listen  to  his  amazing  words. 

"  My  lady,  long  before  I  entered  the  service 
of  my  Lord  of  Catzu  I  was  a  ronin,  an  in- 
dependent samurai  who  owed  allegiance  to 
no  lord  or  prince.  I  was  induced  to  enter 
your  service  not  for  love  of  your  lord  or  desire 
to  ingratiate  myself  with  the  Shogun  powers, 
for,  though  a  deserter  for  personal  reasons,  I 
was  of  the  clan  of  Choshui,  and  an  Imperialist 
at  heart!" 

"Such  insolence,"  said  the  lady,  furiously, 
"shall  be  punished  with  thy  insignificant 
head." 

"Tsh!"  interposed  her  brother,  angrily. 
"  Permit  our  good  friend  to  speak.  I  have  a 
liking  and  understanding  for  his  words." 

"  As  I  have  said,"  repeated  Genji,  "  it  was 
neither  for  love  of  thy  lord  nor  his  cause  that 
I  entered  his  service,  but  because  I  desired  to 
be  near  to,  and  to  serve  with  my  life,  if  neces- 
sary, the  orphaned  daughter  of  my  old  friend 
and  comrade,  the  Lady  Wistaria." 


I 


VJ5TARJA     R 

-~jr      '  '        '      "Tf  T«i  > 


"It  is  well,"  said  the  Lady  Evening  Glory, 
sharply,  "  that  you  did  not  acquaint  my  Lord 
Catzu  with  all  this.  If  my  memory  serves 
me  correctly,  you  came  to  Catzu  with  great 
protestations  and  promises  of  allegiance  and 
loyalty  to  his  lordship." 

"And,"  said  Genji,  "during  the  time  that 
I  have  served  the  Lord  Catzu,  there  has  been 
no  samurai  whose  allegiance  has  been  more 
unswerving  than  mine." 

"And  yet,"  said  the  lady,  scornfully,  "at 
the  first  test  the  allegiance  you  boast  of  is 
found  wanting." 

"I  respectfully  beg  to  call  your  attention, 
my  lady,  to  the  error  and  injustice  you  com- 
mit in  making  such  a  remark.  In  following 
my  inclination  at  this  present  time  I  expect 
to  be  discharged  by  his  lordship,  or  I  shall 
submit  my  resignation  to  him.  Under  the 
circumstances,  I  am  once  more  a  free  samu- 
rai, and,  being  out  of  service,  I  am  at  perfect 
liberty  to  serve  whom  I  please.  Nevertheless 
I  shall  take  delight  in  obeying  any  commands 
you  may  be  pleased  to  bestow  when  I  am  at  lib- 
erty to  do  so.  At  present  I  am  not  at  liberty." 

"May  I  inquire,"  she  asked,  with  her  cold 
eyes  disdainfully  fixed  above  his  head,  "why 
you  condescended  to  accompany  me?" 

"Certainly.  I  had  a  fancy  that  you  were 
about  to  set  off  for  the  place  where  the  Lady 
Wistaria  might  be  residing.  Consequently  I 
besought  you  to  permit  me  to  attend  you.  ^ 

3T    '— L     •        .  »•  1  T       ' 

148 


TOE  A 

-%  3-  -3Ezz=:: 


What  is  more,  I  had  reason  to  believe  that 
the  Lady  Wistaria  would  be  in  need  of  me. 
Hence,  here  I  am,  and  here  I  remain,  the 
gods  permitting." 

"  If  you  suppose,  Sir  Genji,  that  by  pretend- 
ing zeal  in  behalf  of  my  honorable  niece  you 
can  excuse  your  conduct  towards  those  in 
whose  service  you  rightfully  belong,  you  will 
soon  discover  your  error,  I  assure  you." 

"There  I  disagree  with  you,"  interrupted 
Shimadzu,  suddenly.  "  It  is  my  opinion  that 
my  old  friend's  loyal  zeal  for  the  insignif- 
icant Lady  Wistaria  excuses  him  from  any 
seeming  lapses  in  his  service  to  his  lord, 
and  in  this  I  believe  the  Lord  of  Catzu  will 
agree  with  me.  Therefore,  sister,  let  us  call 
a  truce  to  this  harsh  and  useless  exchange 
of  bitter  words.  Instead,  let  us  beg  that  Sir 
Genji  will  condescend  to  accept  our  gratitude 
for  his  loyalty  to  one  who,  though  insignif- 
icant, is  yet  of  our  family." 

Again  the  two  samurai  bowed  deeply  to 
each  other.  The  Lady  of  Catzu  shrugged 
angry  shoulders. 

"What  is  to  be  done?"  she  inquired,  after 
a  moment. 

"  Despatch  the  samurai  Matsue  at  once  with 
the  paper,"  said  her  brother.  "Meanwhile" 
— he  turned  to  Genji—"  deign  to  permit  me  to 
lead  you  to  my  Lady  Wistaria." 


Ttf  E  J 


OOJNG  *F  NtffcSTAfciA     n 

c  —  ^i  .%-  T  -  it—  a 


HE  pain  was  quite  gone  from 
the  brain  and  head.  The  fever 
had  abated.  A  strange  sense 
of  coolness  and  rest  pervaded 
the  whole  being  of  Keiki.  The 
Shining  Prince  fell  to  dream- 
ing, this  time  without  a  hideous 
nightmare  being  wrought  upon 
his  mind. 

Once  more  he  was  standing 
in  a  royal  garden,  where  the 
little  winds  blew  about  him 
laden  with  the  faint,  subtle 
odor  of  early  spring;  where 
the  birds  clattered  and  cried 
out  indignantly  at  him  for 
disturbing  them  so  early ;  where 

~  '  "'-  --•*&-         ~    ]C        -      *JT 
150 


TOE  .VOOJIMG  of  VJSTAPJ A     n 

F"  .a|£  2ft ^p- ( 


the  sun  arose  from  behind  the  mountains 
veiled  in  a  golden  cloud  and  travelled  over 
the  heavens,  pausing  to  tint  the  waters  of  a 
slender  river  to  the  magic  glow  of  blood  and 
gold.  The  soft,  glad  winds  caressed  as 
they  called  to  him  now.  Moved  to  bend  the 
knee  in  greeting  and  homage,  he  had  become 
a  sun  -  worshipper.  He  stood  waiting  be- 
neath a  flowered  casement,  waiting  in  a  silence 
pregnant  with  inward  feeling.  Not  a  sound 
stirred  about  him;  the  birds  had  dropped 
to  sleep  again;  but  the  glory  of  the  sun  had 
deepened  and  spread  its  full  radiance  upon 
the  casement.  Then  very  slowly  a  maiden's 
face,  like  a  picture  of  the  sun -goddess  with 
the  halo  of  the  sun  about  it,  grew  into  the 
vision,  until  gradually  the  dream -eyes  of 
the  Prince  Keiki  saw  naught  else  save  that 
haunting  spiritual  face,  with  its  eyes  laden 
with  love  and  still  suffused  with  unutterable 
sadness. 

As  suddenly  as  it  had  come,  the  vision 
faded  away.  Darkness  passed  between  him 
and  the  face  of  his  dreams.  He  sat  upon  his 
couch,  stretching  out  imploring,  beseeching 
hands  as  he  called  aloud,  with  a  cry  of  pierc- 
ing pleading : 

"Fuji— Fuji-wara!" 

Then  he  became  dreamily  conscious  that 
soft  hands  were  gently  pushing  him  back- 
ward. He  knew  that  her  arms  were  pressed 
about  him,  that  she  had  put  her  face  against 

=^T  -O.  gg==LJt  JT- 


n    TOE  .WOOING  of  ViSTAPJA 

5E  %  _^£  ffi  HZZ 

his  own.  He  tried  to  speak,  but  she  closed 
his  lips  with  her  own  upon  them,  and  an- 
swered, in  that  sighing  voice  of  hers: 

"It  is  I,  Wistaria!     Pray  thee  to  sleep!" 

Keiki  fell  into  a  delicious,  dreamless  slumber. 
Beside  him,  her  arms  supporting  against 
her  bosom  the  weight  of  his  head,  Wistaria 
knelt,  unmoving,  for  the  space  of  an  hour. 
Her  eyes  had  that  strange,  brooding,  guard- 
ing expression  of  the  mother. 

Some  one  tapped  with  the  lightness  of  a 
child  upon  the  fusuma.  Wistaria  tightened 
her  arms  about  her  lover.  Her  face  became 
strained  and  rigid.  Her  eyes  enlarged  with 
mingled  terror  and  savage  defiance. 

The  tapping  was  repeated.  Still  she  made 
no  response.  There  was  an  interval  of  si- 
lence. Then  the  sliding  door  was  softly 
pushed  aside.  Some  one  entered  the  room, 
and  stood  against  the  wall  looking  down  at 
the  little,  silent  figure  with  its  face  of  ap- 
pealing, helpless  agony.  The  next  moment 
the  samurai  Genji  was  kneeling  beside  Wis- 
taria. 

For  a  moment  she  could  not  speak,  so  in- 
tense were  her  mingled  emotions.  She  had 
thought  herself  bereft  of  all  friends  on  earth. 
In  her  father  and  aunt  she  could  see  noth- 
ing but  menacing  enemies  who  had  assumed 
the  dark  guise  of  fiends.  Yet  here  was  Genji 
—  Genji,  her  own,  big  samurai  —  whose  very 
presence  brought  a  sense  of  safety  and  re- 


152 


TflE  .  n 


pose.  A  strange  little  laugh,  half  a  strangled 
sob,  struggled  through  her  lips. 

In  one  glance  Genji  saw  that  the  weight  of 
the  Prince  in  her  slender  arms  was  benumb- 
ing them.  Without  a  word  he  lifted  the 
sleeping  Prince  in  his  own  arms  and  put 
him  gently  back  upon  the  padded  robe  which 
served  as  his  couch.  Then  turning  to  his 
mistress  he  half  assisted  her,  half  lifted  her, 
to  her  feet.  For  a  moment  she  leaned  against 
him,  dizzy  with  weakness. 

In  a  broken,  piteous,  helpless  fashion  she 
began  to  cry  against  his  breast,  the  pent-up 
anguish  of  many  days  finding  its  outlet. 

Genji  gently  led  her  across  the  room,  be- 
yond the  possible  awakening  of  the  Prince. 
His  big  voice,  hushed  to  a  whisper  despite 
its  huskiness,  was  as  soothing  as  a  mother's. 

"Are"  moshi!  See,  the  big  Gen  is  here. 
All  is  well!  Very  well!" 

"Oh,  Gen!"  she  sobbed,  "1  do  not  know 
what  to  do!" 

"Do?  Why,  we  must  cease  to  weep,  so  we 
may  have  the  strength  to  minister  to  the 
sick." 

"Y-yes— I  will  cease  to  weep,"  she  whis- 
pered, brokenly.  "I — I  will  do  so." 

"That  is  right." 

"And  you  will  not  let  them  harm  him, 
will  you,  Gen?" 

"No!    I  swear  by  my  sword  I  will  not!' 

"You  are  so  good  and  strong,  Gen!" 

j.     "        A •=&  JL  <T= 

153 


TOE  JK 

z     -%  a  -fr 1 


Placing  his  hands  upon  her  shoulders  he 
held  her  back,  then  gently  wiped  the  tears 
from  her  face. 

"Hah!"  he  cried.     "Now  she  is  once  again 
the  brave  girl.     That  is  right.     She  is  the 
daughter    of    a    samurai,    and    cannot    weep    L 
for  long." 

She  tried  to  smile  through  her  tears,  but 
it  was  a  very  pitiful  little  smile  which  strug- 
gled through  the  mist. 

"Now,"  said  he,  "tell  me  everything." 

"Do  you  not  know  all?"  she  asked. 

"No,  I  do  not.  I  am  in  darkness  as  to 
how  your  lover  comes  to  be  here,  wounded 
and  ill;  but  I  surmise  that  he  was  captured 
while  on  his  way  to  Choshui  and  prevented 
from  warning  his  prince." 

"You  do  not  know,"  cried  Wistaria,  looking 
up  into  his  face  with  startled  eyes,  "that  he 
is  the  prince  himself?" 

"The  prince!  Who  is  the  prince?  What 
prince?" 

j,         "  The  young  Prince  of  Mori.     He  "  —  she 
indicated  Keiki — "he  is  the  same  person." 

It  was  Genji's  turn  to  start.  He  made  a 
movement  towards  the  Prince,  but  Wistaria 
grasped  his  arm  and  stayed  him. 

"Nay,  do  not  go  to  him.  He  is  so  tired, 
Gen.  He  has  been  awake,  though  uncon- 
scious, all  night  long,  and  he  needs  the  hon- 
orable rest  the  gods  have  denied  him  so 
long." 


154 


"  But  you  do  not  mean  to  tell  me  that  your 
lover  is  the  young  Mori  prince?" 

"Yes,  even  so,  Gen,  though  I  knew  it  not 
until— until  they  brought  him  here." 

"Brought  him  here!  Why— but  this  man 
— the  Prince  Mori  is  condemned  to  death  1  He 
was  found  guilty  of  treason  —  he  —  oh,  it  is 
quite  impossible!" 

"Alas!  but  it  is  true." 

"  You  do  not  mean  that  your  father  brought 
him  here  under  penalty  of  death?" 

Her  head  was  bent  forward.  She  covered 
her  face  with  her  sleeve. 

"Shaka!"  exclaimed  Genji.  "We  must  do 
something  at  once." 

"Yes,  oh  yes!  You,  Gen,  you  will  take 
him  away — will  you  not,  Gen? — and  protect 
him,  for  if  you  do  not  they  will  kill  him,  or 
force  me  to  marry  with  him." 

"Force  you  to  marry  with  him!" 

"Yes.  Do  you  not  understand?  I  am  only 
an  Eta  girl." 

"I  know  that." 

"And  my  father  believes  that  if  he  were 
to  marry  me  to  the  Prince  he  would  legally 
become  an  outcast,  and  it  would  break  his 
father's  heart." 

"That  is  very  true." 

"Then  you  see,  Gen,  how  imperative  it  is 
that  he  should  be  taken  away  at  once." 

"Why,  no,  I  do  not  so  regard  it." 

"You  do  not?    Then  what  am  I  to  do?" 

.      3     ~         A  ^  1  3C= 

155 


"Marry  him  at  once." 

"But,  indeed,  I  cannot  do  so." 

"Why  not?" 

"Oh,  Gen,  it  would  be  too  humiliating  for 
him  to  debase  himself.  I  could  not  be  so  false 
as  to  deceive  him  and  drag  him  down  from 
his  high  estate.  I  could  not  do  it." 

"Pugh!  You  overrate  the  ignominy  of 
the  Eta.  In  the  old  days  when  your  father 
married  among  them  the  prejudice  was  at 
its  bitterest.  He  is  not  aware  of  the  changes 
which  are  rapidly  taking  place  in  the  thought 
of  the  people  of  Japan  to-day,  nor  does  he 
know  that  this  very  prince  represents  to  the 
people  that  new  era  which  is  about  to  dawn 
wherein  all  men  will  have  equal  rights  and 
privileges.  Your  honorable  father  has  lived 
only  in  his  own  sorrows,  knowing  little  of 
what  is  taking  place  in  his  country.  Take 
advantage  of  his  ignorance,  I  advise  you." 

"But  he  would  never  forgive  me,"  she 
said. 

"Who?  Your  prince?  Never  forgive  you 
for  marrying  him!  Why,  I  thought  he  had 
wooed  you  for  that  purpose!" 

"Yes,"  she  sighed,  "but  he  did  not  know 
the  truth  then.  Perhaps  if  he  had  known 
of  my  lowly  station — " 

"It  would  have  made  no  difference.  I 
tell  you  1  am  well  acquainted  with  this  family 
of  Mori.  They  are  a  proud  but  not  ignoble 
race,  and  this  new  scion  has  shown  a  braver 


156 


WE  -V 


and  better  blood  than  all  of  his  august  an- 
cestors." 

"I  cannot  do  it/'  she  said,  shaking  her 
head  despairingly.  "So  do  you,  pray,  Sir 
Gen,  assist  me  to  put  him  in  hiding  some- 
where." 

"Tsh!  That  is  impossible.  Why,  see,  he 
is  a  big  fellow.  We  could  not  carry  him  'far, 
and  the  place  here  is  surrounded  by  spies. 
He  would  meet  a  worse  fate  than  if  —  " 

She  became  paler  and  shivered  visibly. 

"I  do  not  like  to  hear  you  speak  so,"  she 
said. 

"I  do  not  like  to  see  you  act  so,  my  lady," 
said  Gen.  "What!  You  would  desert  your 
lover  when  he  most  needs  you!" 

"Oh,  Gen,  no!   -I  did  not  say  that." 

"When  there  is  a  way  by  which  you  can 
save  his  life,  you  refuse  to  do  so?  Very  well, 
then;  better  deliver  him  up  at  once  to  his 
executioners." 

"Oh-h!" 

She  interrupted  him  with  a  sharp  cry  of 
fright.  The  sound  of  her  voice  reaching  the 
Prince  as  he  slept,  he  turned  uneasily  on  his 
couch,  sighing  heavily.  Genji  and  Wistaria 
listened  to  him  in  breathless  silence.  Then, 
with  her  face  turned  towards  the  Prince,  Wis- 
taria moved  close  to  his  couch,  whispering 
tremulously  : 

"  Yes,  yes,  I  must  do  it.  It  is  the  only  way 
—  the  only  way!" 


157 


THE -WOOING  ojf*  WISTARIA 


n 


- 


< 


"That  is  right,"  said  Genji,  patting  her 
hand  reassuringly. 

She  walked  unsteadily  back  to  her  lover. 
Once  more  she  sank  down  on  her  knees  beside 
him.  Her  face  wore  an  expression  the  big 
samurai  could  not  bear  to  look  upon.  He 
moved  very  silently  and  stood  against  the 
door  of  the  chamber,  straight  and  immovable 
as  a  statue,  and  strong  and  invincible  as  a 
war  god  on  guard. 


158 


VJ3TAFJA 


RINCE  KEIKI  was  pacing  rest- 
lessly and  impatiently  up  and 
down  the  chamber  wherein  he 
had  lain  ill.  It  was  the  month 
of  June.  From  the  small  open- 
ing of  the  doors  Keiki  could 
see  that  the  uneven  hillocks 
which  appeared  on  all  sides 
were  blazing  with  the  gorgeous 
flowers  colored  by  the  yellow 
sun  above  them. 

At  the  door  of  the  chamber, 
his  arms  folded  across  his  breast, 
his  eyes  quietly  following  the 
glance  of  the  plainly  irritated 
Prince,  the  samurai  Genji  stood, 
still  in  the  attitude  of  a  guard. 


159 


X 


"Why,"  inquired  the  Prince,  frowning 
savagely,  "may  not  the  shoji  be  pushed  com- 
pletely to  one  side?  I  suppose  this  honorable 
house  is  fashioned  like  any  other  Japanese 
abode.  Since  I  am  not  permitted  to  venture 
out  of  this  honorable  interior,  at  least  I  might 
be  allowed  to  look  upon  more  of  the  outside 
world  than  is  to  be  seen  through  such  a 
narrow  space." 

He  indicated  the  screens,  only  partially 
opened,  which  half  discovered,  half  con- 
cealed, a  sloping  balcony. 

Very  deep  and  respectful  was  Genji's  bow. 

"It  is  my  distasteful  duty  to  be  forced 
to  disagree  with  your  excellency,"  he  said. 
"Your  highness's  august  health  is  such  that 
your  chamber  must  be  sheltered  even  from 
the  summer  breezes." 

The  Prince  stopped  sharply  in  his  walk. 

"Spare  yourself  such  imaginative  effort, 
Sir  Genji,"  he  said.  "That,  you  are  well 
aware,  is  not  the  true  reason  wrhy  I  am  de- 
prived of  sufficient  air,  and  am  forced  to 
remain  in  a  room  with  my  shutters  closed 
so  that  not  even  the  breath  of  summer  may 
enter." 

At  Genji's  second  obeisance,  the  Prince, 
with  an  impatient  motion,  commanded  him 
to  cease,  and  to  give  his  undivided  attention 
to  his  remarks. 

"Now  will  you  do  me  the  kindness  to  in- 
form me  what  all  these  mysterious  precau- 


160 


tions  mean?  Wait  a  moment.  Do  not  speak, 
for  I  perceive  you  are  about  to  utter  some 
further  prevarication.  Think  before  you  speak , 
and  try  to  see  that  it  is  useless  to  attempt  to 
deceive  me." 

"Well,  my  lord/'  said  Genji,  "knowing  as 
you  do  the  peril  in  which  your  life  will  be 
placed  if — " 

"Oh  yes,  I  perceive  all  you  would  say. 
I  have  recently  been  rescued  from  a  blood- 
thirsty executioner;  I  must  remain  in  hiding 
for  some  time,  and  so  on;  but  what  I  wish  to 
understand  is  why  is  it  necessary  for  me  to 
continue  imprisoned?" 

"  Well,  my  lord,  you  would  not  wish  a  Sho- 
gun  spy  to  catch  a  glimpse  of  you  by  chance?" 

"  I  fear  no  spy,"  said  the  Prince,  with  con- 
tempt. "  If  I  were  permitted  my  own  way  " 
he  added,  savagely,  "  I  would  not  linger  here, 
but  would  start  out  alone,  and  cut  my  way 
through  such  worms  and  vipers." 

"If  you  wish  to  do  so,"  said  Genji,  with 
some  asperity,  "I  shall  take  no  measures  to 
prevent  you ;  but  I  had  thought  your  high- 
ness desired  to  remain  here  at  all  events  until 
after  your  wedding." 

The  young  Prince  sighed,  and,  seating 
>  himself  on  a  small  lacquer  stool  by  the  parted 
doors,  he  rested  his  chin  upon  his  hands  and 
stared  out  gloomily  at  the  landscape. 

After  a  moment,  in  a  gentler  voice  he  re- 
joined : 


161 


TOEJtt/QOJMG  OF  \fl5TAPJA     ^ 

"  Is  it  not  yet  time  for  her  to  come?"  without 
turning  his  head. 

"No,  my  lord." 

The  Prince  sighed  again. 

"I  once  prided  myself  upon  my  habit  of 
early  rising,"  he  said.  "Now  it  has  become 
a  nuisance." 

Silence  again,  and  then: 

"Sir  Genji,  what  has  become  of  the  Lady 
Evening  Glory?  She  has  not  returned  to 
Catzu?" 

"No.  She  still  condescends  to  accept  my 
humble  hospitality." 

"I  have  not  seen  her  lately — a  fortunate 
circumstance,  by  -  the  -  way.  The  lady  op- 
presses me." 

"She  has  been  much  engaged  with  the 
marriage  garments  of  the  Lady  Wistaria." 

The  Prince's  face  softened  at  the  mere  men- 
tion of  Wistaria's  name,  and  the  look  of  im- 
patience passed  from  his  face.  For  a  time 
he  seemed  plunged  in  a  pleasing  reverie. 
Again  he  questioned  the  samurai. 

"Do  you  not  think  it  a  strange  fancy  for 
my  lady  to  wish  to  be  married  here  at  your 
house  instead  of  at  Catzu?" 

"Not  at  all.  Your  health  is  such  that  an 
ordinary  wedding  would  be  harmful ;  besides, 
think  of  the  danger!" 

"  Well,  it  is  my  opinion  that  the  state  of  my 
health  is  exaggerated.  All  I  need  to  drive 
away  rny  paleness  quickly  is  the  open  air 


162 


VJ5TAPJA 


and  the  golden  sunlight.  As  for  the  danger, 
I  was  not  thinking  of  a  wedding  in  Catzu, 
but  one  in  my  own  province.  I  should  be 
perfectly  safe  there  with  my  own  samurai 
to  protect  me,  and  a  half-dozen  other  southern 
clans  ready  to  come  to  my  assistance." 

"I  cannot  conceive  of  your  excellency's 
impatience  and  dissatisfaction,"  said  Genji, 
"  when  I  recall  that  you  are  about  to  be  wedded 
soon,  and  to  one  for  whom  any  prince  would 
be  only  too  glad  to  sacrifice  everything." 

"You  are  right,  Sir  Genji.  Yet  is  it  not 
strange  that,  despite  all  this,  I  feel  melan- 
choly. I  cannot  understand  it."  He  paused, 
and  turned  on  his  seat  to  look  back  at  the  sa- 
murai. "Sometimes  it  appears  to  me  that  I 
have  caught  this  sadness  of  spirit  from  my 
lady  herself." 

"  What,  the  Lady  Wistaria  ?    Impossible.  '  ' 

"It  is  true,"  said  the  Prince,  thoughtfully. 

"  Why,  she  sings  half  the  day  like  a  bird  —  " 

"Whose  heart  is  broken,"  quickly  ended 
the  Prince. 

"She  plays  like  a  child—" 

"Who  is  commanded  to  rejoice." 

"Her  soul  is  as  gay  —  " 

"As  a  priestess  whom  the  black  temple 
shuts  from  life." 

"Pugh!     She  laughs—'1 

"  With  tears  in  her  throat  "  ;  again  the  Prince 
finished  the  sentence.  "Yes,  it  is  so,  I  tell 
you.  I  am  not  deceived." 


163 


"Your  affection,  my  lord,  causes  you  to 
imagine  things  that  do  not  exist." 

"No,  my  affection  but  increases  the  acute- 
ness  of  my  perceptions/' 

"If  you  will  permit  an  unworthy  vassal  to 
venture  an  opinion,  I  would  say,  my  lord,  that 
for  one  about  to  wed  in  a  day,  your  excel- 
lency wears  a  most  funereal  countenance." 

The  Prince  arose  abruptly,  as  though  he 
would  shake  off  some  oppression  that  beset 
him. 

"Let  me  tell  you,  my  good  fellow,"  he  said, 
approaching  Genji  more  closely,  "when  one 
we  love  appears  to  us  to  be  cloaking  behind 
a  mask  of  painful  gayety  some  secret  sad- 
ness, the  world  is  apt  to  wear  a  haggard  as- 
pect which  one's  own  self  must  reflect.  If  you 
repeat  that  my  imagination  but  conjures  up 
such  fancies,  then  I  will  say  that  I  must  be 
insane." 

Silently,  for  the  space  of  a  few  moments, 
the  two  men  remained  looking  into  each 
other's  faces.  They  started  simultaneously 
at  the  soft  patting  of  approaching  footsteps. 

"One  request,  Sir  Genji,"  whispered  Keiki, 
as  the  footsteps  drew  nearer.  "Will  you  for 
once  relax  your  guard  and  permit  me  to  be 
alone  with  —  " 

"But—" 

"You  can  guard  my  person  just  as  well 
outside,  and  should  any  one  attempt  to  attack 
me  you  will  certainly  be  made  aware  of  the 


164 


TflE  -VJOOJNG  QP  WJSTAR) A     n 

-4  ^  ^  •»  \    ...J 

fact  by  whatever  noise  a  pair  of  lungs  can 
force." 

"Her  aunt  would  consider  it  unseemly," 
said  the  samurai,  with  some  hesitation. 

"  I  do  not  make  it  a  request,"  said  the  Prince, 
patiently,  "but  merely  beg  the  favor." 

A  light  tap  on  the  door,  and  the  next  moment 
Wistaria  had  entered  the  room.  Her  arms 
were  full  of  flowers,  naming  red  and  yellow 
blossoms  that  grew  wild  on  the  hills,  while 
about  her  garments  clung  the  odors  of  the 
fields  and  the  mountain.  She  was  damp  and 
sweet  with  the  morning  dew  shining  on  her 
hair,  clinging  even  to  her  face  and  arms. 

"What!"  cried  Gen.  "You  have  been  out 
already?" 

She  nodded,  smiling  wistfully  over  the 
flowers,  which  the  Prince  silently  took  from 
her  arms  and  set  upon  the  floor.  His  eyes 
never  relaxed  their  gaze  from  her  sweet  face. 

"My  lord's  chamber,"  she  said,  as  she 
shook  the  dew  and  a  few  clinging  leaves 
from  her  kimono,  "  is  so  barren  of  the  beauty 
of  summer  that  I  thought  the  fields  might 
spare  something  of  their  wealth." 

Keiki  turned  an  imploring  glance  to  Genji. 
The  samurai  turned  hastily  to  the  door. 

"Well,  then,"  said  Genji,  "I  shall  go  and 
bring  you  some  honorable  water  for  the  flow- 
ers." 

The  moment  Genji  had  left  the  room  the 
Prince  seized  Wistaria's  hands  impulsively. 


TfiE.VOojNG  OJP  VMSTARIA 


"Wistaria/'  he  cried,  "now  I  have  some 
questions  to  put  to  you." 

One  startled,  upward  glance  at  him  she 
gave.  He  took  her  face  in  his  hands,  com- 
pelling her  eyes  to  meet  his  own. 

"Why  are  your  eyes  so  dark?"  he  asked. 

She  attempted  to  smile. 

"The  gods  —  "  she  began. 

"No,"  he  interrupted,  knowing  in  advance 
what  she  was  about  to  say,  "but  here,  and 
here."  He  passed  his  fingers  gently  over  the 
dark  shadows  that  framed  the  pitiful  eyes. 

"Have  they  not  always  been  so?"  she 
asked,  with  a  pathetic  attempt  at  lightness 
which  did  not  deceive  him. 

"No,"  he  replied,  almost  vehemently. 
"When  first  the  gods  blessed  me  with  the 
joy  of  beholding  you,  they  were  not  so." 

"Well,"  she  murmured,  tremulously,  "I 
am  becoming  honorably  older.  That  is  all." 

"No,  that  is  not  the  reason,"  he  cried,  pas- 
sionately. "A  few  months  could  not  have 
wrought  the  difference,  nor  the  other  changes 
I  perceive  in  your  face.  The  rose  is  gone. 
You  are  pale  and  too  frail.  Your  lips  —  ah, 
I  cannot  bear  it!" 

With  an  exclamation  of  pain  he  broke  off. 

An  expression  of  fright  appeared  in  her 
face.  Her  hands  clutched  about  his. 

"My  lord,"  she  cried,  "you  —  you  do  not 
think  that  I  —  that  I  have  ceased  to  be  beau- 
tiful?" 


166 


THE .  WOOJNG  op  \flSTARIA     n 


"No,  no.  You  are  more  beautiful  than 
ever.  You  could  not  be  otherwise  than  beau- 
tiful, my  beloved,  but  you  appear  to  me  so 
frail  that  I  am  beginning  to  believe  you  are 
some  spirit.  Tell  me,  do  tell  me,  what  has 
wrought  this  change  in  you?" 

For  a  moment  she  remained  silent.  Then 
she  laughed.  Her  hands,  with  a  little,  childish 
motion  of  delight,  she  clapped. 

"Wait!"  she  cried,  breaking  from  his  arm. 
"I  will  show  you  the  cause." 

She  ran  across  the  room  and  brought  a 
little  mirror,  which  she  polished  with  her 
sleeve  as  she  returned  to  him.  Then  leaning 
against  him,  she  held  it  before  his  face,  while 
she  put  her  own  cheek  against  his. 

"  Look  within,  Keiki-sama.  Said  the  gods : 
'  Such  a  pale  and  wan  Keiki  will  need  a  com- 
panion, so  we  will  make  the  Lady  Wistaria's 
face  to  match  his!'  So  they  did  so." 

With  a  gesture  of  despair,  he  pushed  the 
glass  away. 

"No,"  he  said,  hoarsely,  "for  mine  is  pale 
and  thin  from  much  illness,  while  yours — 

"From  love,"  she  said,  in  a  breath. 


167 


ISTARIA,"  said  the  Prince 
Keiki,  with  a  very  firm  clasp 
of  her  hand,  "just  now  I  in- 
sisted that  the  samurai  Genji 
should  cease  his  futile  deception 
by  useless  prevarication.  And 
now  I  ask  you,  I  beg  you,  not 
to  hide  under  a  cloak  of  levity 
any  secret  trouble  which  you  may 
have,  and  which  I,  as  your  future 
husband,  am  entitled  to  know." 

The  mirror  slipped  from  the 
girl's  hand.  She  stared  at  it 
hopelessly. 

"  Now  answer  me/'  continued 
her  lover,  insistently.  "  Is  it  not 
true  that  you  are  in  trouble?" 

u  3*  'A.      •        3T 

168 


¥ 


-  \W5TARIA 

-v- ' 


"  Yes,"  she  said,  in  a  low  voice ; "  yes,  but — " 
Her  voice  broke,  and  she  turned  her  face  from 
his  gaze.  "  But,  alas,  I  cannot  tell  it  to  you, 
my  lord." 

"Nay,  do  so,"  he  entreated,  with  such 
pleading  in  his  voice  that  she  came  back 
to  his  arms  and  nestled  against  his  breast 
with  a  little  wounded  cry. 

"I  am  waiting,"  he  said,  softly. 

"I  cannot  tell  you,"  she  murmured  against 
his  breast. 

"Why  not?"  he  inquired,  quietly. 

In  her  nervous  restlessness  she  broke 
away  from  his  arms  again.  Her  hands 
noiselessly  clapped  each  other  repeatedly. 
She  could  not  remain  still. 

"  Why  not?"  repeated  the  Prince. 

"There  are  many  reasons,"  she  said,  in  a 
low  voice,  still  maintaining  the  distance  be- 
tween them. 

"  Nay,  think  a  little  while,  and  see  whether 
your  heart  will  not  suggest  to  you  that  the 
mere  telling  of  your  troubles  to  me  may  be 
their  solution.  Remember  I  shall  be  your 
honorable  husband  very  soon  " — he  smiled  a 
trifle  sadly— "and  then  I  shall  command 
you  to  tell  me  the  truth,  you  know." 

Wistaria  sat  very  still  now.  Ever  since 
Genji  had  come  upon  her  that  first  day  with 
the  wounded  Prince  in  her  arms  Wistaria 
had  been  a  prey  to  the  utmost  despair  and 
anguish.  The  infinite  faith  and  trust  of  ^ 


£™e: 


her  lover  filled  her  continually  with  a  greater 
horror  of  her  deceit,  for  she  could  not  forget, 
not  for  one  moment,  the  part  she  had  been 
forced  to  play  in  the  undoing  of  the  Prince. 
How  could  she  add  to  her  other  iniquities  by 
inveigling  this  noble  and  generous-hearted 
Prince  into  a  marriage  which  would  not  fail 
to  debase  him?  And  yet  she  had  no  alterna- 
tive, for  otherwise  his  life  would  be  the  forfeit. 
Was  it  possible  for  her  to  tell  him  all  this? 
Would  it  be,  as  he  had  said,  a  solution  of 
her  misery  to  confess  her  own  deceit  and 
warn  him  of  the  danger  in  which  he  stood, 
that  of  marrying  into  an  outcast  family? 

As  she  thought  thus  sadly,  the  gentle  voice 
of  her  lover  brought  the  tears  to  her  eyes. 
But  she  held  them  back,  almost  feverishly 
placing  a  greater  distance  between  herself 
and  the  Prince.  In  that  moment  when  his 
tender  eyes  held  hers  in  their  gaze,  while  he 
trustfully  waited  for  her  to  speak,  she  was 
ready  to  tell  him  everything. 

"  You  are  about  to  tell  me  all,"  he  said,  as 
though  he  understood  her  unspoken  volition. 
"Do  not  mistrust  me.  Believe  in  my  adora- 
tion for  you.  Give  me  thy  heart  completely." 

A  sudden  shivering  took  possession  of 
Wistaria.  Instead  of  speaking,  she  drew 
her  sleeve  across  her  face,  a  characteristic 
habit  with  her  when  in  despair.  Gradually 
her  head  sank  forward,  until  she  knelt  at 
his  feet  in  an  attitude  of  humility. 


170 


Ttf  E  .WOOING  OF  VflSTAPJA 


"Nay,  do  not  kneel,"  he  cried,  "nor  hide 
thy  face  from  me.  Do  not  so,  I  beseech 
thee." 

Having  permitted  his  assistance  in  rising, 
she  freed  herself  from  his  encircling  arm. 

"Look  at  me,  my  lord,"  she  cried.  "Tell 
me,  what  do  you  see?" 

"A  maiden  as  beautiful  as  the  sun-goddess 
and  as  good  —  " 

"  Nay,  then,  do  not  speak  so.  Look  at  me 
again,  my  lord.  Have  you  then  found  such 
pleasure  in  my  beauty  that  you  have  not 
even  remarked  my  garments?" 

"Your  garments?" 

Bewilderment  was  in  his  face. 

"Yes.  Are  these  the  silks,  my  lord,  worn 
by  the  ladies  of  your  rank?" 

"Nay,  but  though  I  cannot  conceive  why 
you  should  be  garbed  in  cotton,  yet  I  see  no 
disgrace  in  the  fact.  Perchance  the  samurai 
Genji  is  honorably  poor,  and  you  are  so  cour- 
teous as  to  dress  in  homely  garments  while 
a  guest  of  his  honorable  household." 

"I  am  not  a  guest  of  his  household,  my 
lord." 

"But—" 

"I  know  it  has  been  told  you  so.  Never- 
theless, this  is  the  house  of  my  father." 

"I  do  not  understand,"  he  exclaimed. 

He  added  immediately,  "  If  it  is  that  your 
honorable  father  is  poor  —  " 

"You  are  wrong,  my  lord.     My  father  is 


in  the  service  of  the  government.  His  remu- 
neration is  ample." 

"Then  do  explain  to  me  the  reason  why 
you  are  so  garbed  and  situated." 

"Because  it  is  so  enacted  by  the  law/' 
she  said. 

"The  law!" 

"I  am  an  Eta  woman." 

"An  Eta!     Impossible!" 

"  That  was  the  offence  for  which  my  father 
was  banished  —  because  of  his  marriage  to 
an  Eta  maiden." 

The  Prince  stared  at  her  aghast.  She 
stood  as  still  as  if  made  of  stone.  Her  lover's 
silence  was  due  to  his  repugnance  at  this 
revelation,  she  thought.  Seeing  his  effort 
to  speak,  she  prayed  a  little  prayer  to  the 
gods  that  he  would  spare  her.  The  Prince 
found  his  voice. 

"Then  by  the  royal  blood  of  my  ancestors, 
I  swear,"  he  cried,  "  that  I  shall  be  guilty  of 
the  same  offence  as  thy  honorable  parent,  and 
for  thy  sweet  sake  I,  too,  shall  become  an  Eta. " 

With  a  little,  trembling  cry  she  started 
towards  him. 

"But  thy  cause!  Oh,  my  lord,  thy  noble 
cause!" 

"The  cause!"  He  threw  back  his  head 
and  laughed  with  buoyant  joyousness. 

"Fuji-wara,"  he  said,  "do  you  not  perceive 
that  a  new  life  is  about  to  dawn  for  this  Japan 
of  ours?" 

: — 3 -a.        .  %-         n        a- 

172 


Ttf  E  -WOOJING  0F  NWSTAR) A     n 


"A  new  life,"  she  repeated,  breathlessly, 
hanging  upon  the  words  that  escaped  his 
lips. 

"A  new  life,"  he  said,  "with  our  country 
no  longer  broken  up  into  factions,  when  men 
shall  have  equal  rights  and  privileges." 

He  smiled  at  her  rapt  face,  and  possessed 
himself  of  both  her  little  hands. 

"  Dearest  and  sweetest  of  maidens,"  he  said, 
tenderly,  "in  marrying  me  you  do  not  wed 
a  prince.  I  am  pledged  to  the  welfare  of  the 
people.  Know  you  not  that  the  great  cause 
of  the  Imperialist  will  bring  about  that  Res- 
toration which  will  overturn  all  these  crush- 
ing tyrannies  and  injustices  which  press  our 
people  to  the  earth?  Repeat  with  me,  then: 
'Daigi  Meibunor!  Banzai  the  Imperialist!' ' 

Suddenly  she  remembered  the  blow  she  had 
dealt  the  cause.  Her  head  fell  upon  their 
clasped  hands. 

But  over  her  fallen  head  the  voice  of  the 
Prince  Keiki  was  full  of  joy. 

"And  now  I  have  heard  the  great  trouble, 
and  have  I  not  burst  it  like  a  bubble?  Hence- 
forward, then,  let  there  be  only  happiness  and 
joy  in  these  eyes  and  these  lips."  Reverently 
he  pressed  her  eyes  and  lips. 

Genji  was  heard  outside  the  door.  His  face 
was  very  grave  and  his  whole  appearance  per- 
turbed when  he  entered. 

Bowing  deeply  to  the  Prince,  he  addressed 
him  hastily : 

J    —       I  A-  1  3~= 

173 


THE  -WOOING  OF .  VMSTAR1 A 

"Your  excellency,  the  Lord  of  Catzu  has 
arrived  at  my  insignificant  house  and  is  below. 
It  is  his  wish  that  the  marriage  of  his  niece 
should  be  celebrated  without  further  delay. 
I  come  to  you,  therefore,  to  beg  that  you  will 
consent  to  its  immediate  consummation." 

"  I  comply  with  gladness,"  replied  the  Prince, 
"  but  may  I  inquire  the  reason  for  this  haste?" 

"  The  Lord  Catzu  Toro  is  in  critical  peril  in 
your  august  father's  province." 

"Enough!"  interrupted  the  Prince,  impul- 
sively. "  You  desire  my  immediate  mediation 
in  his  behalf?" 

He  turned  to  Wistaria  with  an  exclamation 
of  delight.  "  Now,"  said  he,  "  we  shall  see  all 
our  troubles  melt  into  thin  air  like  mist  before 
the  sun." 

"  But  I  have  not  told  you  all — there  is  more 
still  to  tell.  I  pray  you — "  Wistaria  began. 

"There  is  no  time,"  interrupted  Genji, 
severely,  "  and  I  beg  your  highness  will  con- 
vince the  Lady  Wistaria  of  the  necessity  for 
haste." 

"  That  is  right,"  said  the  Prince.  "  There  is 
a  whole  lifetime  before  us  yet  in  which  thou 
canst  tell  me  thy  heart.  Come.  Let  us  de- 
scend to  the  wedding-chamber."  | 


174 


VJSTAPJA 


* 


<l 


0  Prince  of  Japan  had  ever 
been  wedded  in  so  strange  and 
4  lowly  a  fashion.  There  was  not 
a  sign  or  sound  of  the  gratu- 
lation,  rejoicing,  or  pomp  which 
usually  attend  such  ceremonies. 
When  the  Prince  Keiki  and 
the  Lady  Wistaria,  attended  by 
the  samurai  Genji,  entered  the 
homely  wedding  apartment,  they 
found  a  small  group,  pale  and 
solemn,  awaiting  them.  It  con- 
sisted of  the  Lord  and  Lady 
Catzu  and  one  who  was  a 
stranger  to  Keiki,  but  whom 
he  knew  to  be  the  father  of  the 
Lady  Wistaria. 

«£-  I  «T 

175 


t 


THE  »  w^^Jiiw  **i  *    wi-o  J/«MVHSI 

The  waiting  party  bowed  very  low  and 
solemnly  to  those  who  had  just  entered.  Their 
greeting  was  returned  with  an  equal  gravity 
and  grace.  There  was  a  pause  —  a  hush. 
Keiki  looked  about  him  inquiringly,  and  then 
he  shivered.  The  true  solemnity  of  the  oc- 
casion dawned  upon  him  so  that  even  the  near 
joy  of  possessing  Wistaria  at  last  passed  from 
his  mind.  He  was  about  to  join  through  mar- 
riage two  families  who  hitherto  had  had  for 
each  other  nothing  save  hatred  and  detesta- 
tion. 

Timid  and  pale  as  his  glance  was,  he  scarce- 
ly dared  to  look  at  the  Lady  Wistaria,  though 
he  knew  she  was  so  weak  and  faint  that  the 
samurai  Genji  had  to  support  her. 

Somewhat  sharply,  the  voice  of  the  Lady 
Evening  Glory  broke  the  silence. 

"Why  do  we  wait?" 

The  Lord  Catzu  stirred  uneasily,  glancing 
from  the  bridal  couple  to  his  wife,  and  then  to 
the  inscrutable  face  of  Shimadzu. 

"If  I  may  be  permitted  to  remark,"  he  said, 
apologetically,  "  the  Lady  Wistaria  is  certainly 
garbed  unbefitting  her  rank  and  race." 

"Chut!"  said  his  wife,  angrily,  "you  would 
delay  matters  for  such  a  trifle?  Every  mo- 
ment counts  now  against  our  son.  Will  you 
let  such  an  insignificant  matter  as  the  dress 
of  your  unworthy  niece  hasten  the  possible 
death  of  our  beloved?" 

"When  it  is  her  wedding-dress,  yes,"  said 


176 


„    THE  «WOQ]NG  of  VJ5TAPJA     rj 

*fr  ^fc  T  -"$•  i        \ 


Catzu,  stubbornly.  "  May  I  be  stricken  blind 
before  I  witness  such  a  disgrace  brought  upon 
my  honorable  niece's  dignity.  She  must  be 
married  as  befits  her  rank,  I  repeat." 

A  sour  smile  played  over  the  features  of  the 
Lady  Evening  Glory. 

"That  is  true.  Well,  her  rank  is  that  of 
the  Eta,"  she  said,  tartly. 

Having  found  the  courage  to  disagree  with 
his  lady,  Catzu  now  set  her  at  complete  de- 
fiance. He  marched  towards  the  door. 

"  Very  well,  then.  I  refuse  to  witness  such 
an  outrageous  ceremony.  The  lady  may 
have  Eta  kindred,  but  do  not  forget  that 
she  has  also  the  blood  of  royalty  in  her 
veins." 

His  consort  could  hardly  suppress  her  fury. 

"I  appeal  to  you,  honored  brother,"  she 
said.  "  How  shall  it  be?" 

"And  I,"  exploded  Catzu,  who  was  in  an 
evil  and  contrary  temper,  "  appeal  to  you,  my 
Lord  of  Mori,"  and  he  bowed  profoundly  to 
the  Prince. 

Shimadzu  made  no  response.  His  glance 
met  that  of  the  troubled  Prince.  Keiki  flushed 
under  his  penetrating  eyes.  Then  he  spoke 
with  graceful  dignity,  bowing  meanwhile  to 
£  the  trembling  Wistaria. 

"Let  her  be  garbed,"  he  said,  "as  befits 
the  daughter  of  her  father  and  the  bride  of  a 
Prince  of  Mori." 

There    was    silence    for   a    space.      Then 


177 


F  VJJSTAPJA 

as  -  ^  -  &  1 


Shimadzu  made  an  imperative  gesture  to 
Genji,  who  gently  led  the  girl  from  the  cham- 
ber, followed  by  the  angrily  resigned  Lady 
Evening  Glory. 

The  three  men,  now  alone,  waited  in  strained 
silence  for  Wistaria's  return.  Straight  and 
stiff,  with  heads  somewhat  bent  to  the  floor, 
they  remained  standing  in  almost  identical 
attitudes.  Gradually,  however,  Catzu  broke 
the  tension  by  an  attempt  to  relieve  his  exces- 
sive nervousness.  Resting  first  on  one  foot 
and  then  on  the  other,  he  shifted  about.  His 
eyes  lingered  in  painful  sympathy  upon  the 
Prince,  and  then  irresolutely  turned  to  the 
samurai.  Perspiration  stood  out  on  the  lord's 
brow.  He  was  suffering  physically  from  the 
strain. 

After  a  long  interval  of  this  intolerable 
silence,  the  doors  of  the  chamber  were  again 
pushed  aside.  The  samurai  Genji  entered. 
Bowing  deeply,  he  announced: 

"The  Lady  Wistaria  and  her  august  aunt 
enter  the  honorable  chamber!" 

The  two  ladies,  close  behind  Genji,  now 
followed  him  into  the  room.  Immediately 
all  prostrated  themselves.  When  they  had 
regained  their  feet,  it  was  found  that  Wistaria 
was  still  kneeling.  Then  Genji  perceived  that 
she  had  not  risen  because  she  was  unable  to 
to  do  so.  Without  a  word,  he  lifted  her  to  her 
feet.  One  moment  she  leaned  against  his 
strong  arm,  then  seemed  to  gather  strength. 


178 


VJ5TAPJA     n 

«•         i      " 


Stepping  apart  from  him,  she  stood  alone 
there  in  the  middle  of  the  floor. 

Despite  her  waxen  whiteness,  she  was  more 
than  beautiful  —  ethereal.  Her  lacquer  hair 
was  no  more  dark  than  her  strange,  long  eyes, 
both  set  off  by  an  exquisite  robe  of  ancient 
style,  as  befitted  a  lady  of  noble  blood. 

When  her  hand  touched  that  of  the  Prince 
he  felt  cold  as  ice.  Involuntarily  his  own  palm 
enclosed  hers  warmly.  He  did  not  let  it  go, 
but  drawing  her  closer  to  him,  unmindful  of 
the  assembled  company,  he  tried  to  fathom 
the  tragedy  that  seemed  to  lurk  behind  her 
impenetrable  eyes.  But,  her  head  drooping 
above  their  hands,  he  beheld  only  the  sheen 
of  her  glossy  hair.  Then  she  passed  from 
his  side  to  her  uncle  and  her  father. 

Almost  mechanically,  his  eyes  never  once 
relaxing  their  gaze  from  the  face  of  his  bride, 
the  Prince  went  through  the  ceremony.  After 
the  service  he  tried  to  break  the  uncomfortable 
restraint.  He  proposed  the  health  of  the  two 
noble  though  previously  misguided  families, 
whose  union  had  now  been  so  happily  con- 
summated. But  his  own  cup  was  the  only 
one  held  high.  Gradually  his  hand  fell  from 
its  elevation.  He  set  the  untasted  sake  down 
among  the  marriage  -  cups  and  sprang  to  his 
feet. 

"  Let  us  diffuse  some  merriment  among  us," 
he  cried,  "  for  the  sake  of  the  gods  and  for 
our  future  peace  and  happiness.  Such  un- 

- — ^~-  n_ju— =&.         r         a — ~ 
179 


VJSTAPJA 


due  solemnity  bodes  ill  for  our  honorable 
future." 

The  samurai  Shimadzu  stepped  forward, 
facing  him  fairly. 

"My  lord  and  prince/'  he  said,  "I  have  this 
moment  given  the  signal  for  a  courier  to  hasten 
immediately  to  Choshui  to  acquaint  my  bit- 
terest enemy  with  the  tidings  of  the  marriage 
of  his  heir  to  my  insignificant  daughter." 

The  Prince  smiled,  despite  his  uneasiness. 

"Surely,  my  lord,"  he  said,  "you  make  a 
goodly  new  and  honorable  custom.  What! 
an  announcement,  perchance  an  invitation 
for  one's  enemy!  That  is  well,  for  we  have 
overturned  all  false  maxims  relating  to  ven- 
geance against  an  enemy.  We  have  buried 
our  wrongs  in  a  union  of  love,  and  embrace 
our  enemies  as  friends." 

"  With  august  humility,"  said  the  samurai, 
coldly,  "  I  would  suggest  that  your  highness 's 
assurance  of  our  embrace  is  premature." 

"Premature I  What,  and  this  my  marriage 
day!" 

"  Your  marriage  day  may  be  a  source  of  woe 
to  your  proud  house." 

"Well,  that  is  so,"  agreed  the  Prince, 
thoughtfully.  "Nevertheless,"  he  added, 
cheerfully,  "my  honorable  father  becomes 
more  lenient  with  the  years.  Moreover,  he 
has  but  to  behold  his  new  daughter  to  forget 
all  else  save  the  fortune  the  gods  have  be- 
stowed upon  us." 

T.          £    .    .  JU          ••    -       ~J>£-       •  J  -  *T  - 

180 


THE  . 

3E-  T-  -E= 


"  Be  assured  your  father  shall  never  behold 
her,"  said  the  samurai,  with  incisive  fierceness. 

"What  is  that?" 

"You  have  heard." 

"But  I  do  assure  you  that  my  marriage, 
though  it  may  provoke  the  momentary  anger 
of  my  father,  will  never  debar  my  lady  wife 
from  her  position  in  our  household.  You 
forget  that  my  honored  parent  is  very  old, 
and  I  shall  soon  have  the  honor  of  becoming 
Prince  of  Mori  in  my  own  right.  I  shall  then 
have  no  lord  to  deprive  me  of  my  rights,  even 
if  I  had  disregarded  the  law." 

"You  may  as  well  be  made  aware  of  the 
fact  at  once,"  said  Shimadzu,  "that  no  blood 
of  mine  shall  ever  mingle  with  that  of  the 
Mori!" 

"  I  do  not  understand  your  honorable  speech. 
Has  not  our  august  bloods  just  now  become 
united?" 

"Only  by  the  law,  my  lord." 

"Well—?" 

"  My  daughter,  your  highness,  shall  never 
accompany  her  Mori  husband  to  his  home." 

"  Very  well,  then.  I  will  remain  here  with 
her.  I  am  quite  satisfied  to  renounce  all  my 
worldly  ambitions  and  possessions  for  her 
sake,  if  such  is  the  command  of  her  august 
father,"  and  the  Prince  bowed  to  his  father-in- 
law  in  the  most  filial  and  affable  manner. 

"If  you  remain  here  you  will  not  be  per- 
mitted to  live." 


p  VflSTAPJA 

-IE ir- 


A low  cry,  half  moan,  came  from  the  new 
Princess  of  Mori,  who  lay  against  her  uncle's 
breast.  Keiki  turned  to  her  at  that  cry.  He 
was  seized  with  a  foreboding  of  events  to  come. 
Again  he  turned  to  the  samurai. 

"Will  it  please  you,  honored  father-in-law, 
to  speak  more  plainly  to  me?" 

"  Very  well.  This  marriage,  your  highness, 
has  been  consummated  not  for  the  purpose  of 
uniting  a  pair  of  lovers,  but  to  fulfil  a  pledge 
which  was  made  to  one  who  was  murdered  by 
your  parent — a  pledge  of  vengeance." 

"But  I  cannot  perceive  how  this  is  accom- 
plished," said  the  Prince,  now  pale  as  Wis- 
taria. 

"You  have  married  an  Eta  girl." 

"  I  am  aware  of  that,"  said  the  Prince,  some- 
what proudly. 

"I  have  not  finished,"  said  Shimadzu. 
"Are  you  aware  that  you  are  at  present  un- 
der sentence  of  death?" 

The  Prince  made  a  contemptuous  motion. 

"  By  order  of  the  bakufu  (shogunate).  Yes, 
I  am  aware  of  the  fact." 

"Very  well.     I  am  the  executioner!" 

"You!" 

"  It  was  I  who  caused  your  arrest,  and  after- 
wards brought  you  hither  with  the  intention 
of  executing  you." 

A  flood  of  horrible  thoughts  rushed  across 
the  Prince's  mind,  bewildering  him.  As  if  to 
press  them  back,  he  clasped  his  hands  to  his  [„. 

=^r    "    -jb  tg-         T          ^cn= 

182 


head.     Shiniadzu  continued  in  his  cold  and 
monotonous  voice: 

"After  your  arrest,  it  was  brought  to  my 
attention  that  a  more  subtle  revenge  against 
your  parent  could  be  gained  by  marrying  you 
into  that  very  class  of  people  so  despised  by 
3'our  father,  and  forcing  you  to  become  guilty 
of  the  same  offence  for  which  I  was  exiled." 

Stirred  as  he  now  was,  Keiki's  faith  in  Wis- 
taria still  remained  unshaken.  That  her  fa- 
ther had  had  a  hand  in  betraying  him  he 
was  assured,  but  he  could  not  yet  recognize 
in  the  deed  the  delicate  hand  of  the  woman 
he  loved. 

"Through  the  agency  of  my  daughter," 
went  on  the  samurai,  "  I  was  soon  able  to  learn 
sufficient  concerning  the  workings  of  the  Im- 
perialist party  of  which  you  are  the  head — " 

"The  Imperialist  party!"  repeated  the 
Prince,  and  he  bounded  towards  the  samurai 
with  the  cry  of  a  wounded  animal.  His  hand 
sprang  to  his  hip,  where  his  sword  had  been 
restored  to  its  sheath. 

"  You— you ! "  he  shouted.  "  It  was  you  who 
betrayed  me — who — " 

"You  are  augustly  wrong,"  said  the  sa- 
murai, moving  not  an  inch,  despite  the  close 
proximity  and  menacing  attitude  of  the  Prince. 
"You  honorably  betrayed  yourself!' 

"I!" 

"Certainly.  To  her."  He  indicated,  with- 
out naming,  the  Lady  Wistaria. 


183 


THE  . 


Slowly,  painfully,  driven  by  the  goading 
words  of  the  father,  the  blazing,  burning  eyes 
of  the  husband  sought  Wistaria,  there  to  rest 
upon  her  while  infinite  horror  found  mirror 
in  his  countenance.  Motionless  thus  he 
stood. 

Wistaria,  braced  for  a  shock  she  could  not 
meet,  leaned  against  her  uncle,  whose  head 
bent  over  her.  The  Lady  Evening  Glory 
smiled,  as  one  who  delights  in  the  soul  of 
a  cat.  Calm,  satisfied,  unmoved,  remained 
Shimadzu.  Keiki's  eyes  bulged  from  their 
sockets,  his  mouth  gaped  open.  At  last  one 
word  burst  from  his  lips,  but  it  was  as  elo- 
quent as  though  he  had  uttered  a  thousand. 

"Thou!" 

Her  head  sank  low.  He  recoiled  a  step. 
But  with  entranced  horror  he  continued  to 
gaze  at  her.  Her  face  was  like  marble,  out  of 
which  her  dark  eyes  stared  as  though  made 
of  polished,  glazed  china.  And  as  he  gazed, 
terrible  thoughts  and  remembrances  rushed 
upon  Keiki,  overpowering,  weakening,  paralyz- 
ing him.  After  a  long,  immovable  silence 
he  leaned  slowly  forward  until  their  faces, 
close  together,  were  on  a  level. 

"It  is  true?"  he  whispered,  hoarsely. 
"Speak!  Speak!" 

"  It  is  true,"  she  replied,  in  a  voice  so  small 
and  faint  that  it  seemed  far  away. 

His  sword  leaped  out  of  his  scabbard.  He 
raised  it  as  if  to  strike  her  down.  But  his  ^ 

31 —     -X  "  »  t  A — ~ 


TfiE  - 

-%  "^  -"SB 


hand  fell  to  his  side.     Then  he  spoke,  in  a 
hoarse,  fearful  voice: 

"The  gods  may  forgive  thee.  I,  never!" 
With  that  he  was  gone  from  the  chamber. 
They  heard  the  clash  of  his  sword  as  it  touch- 
ed the  stone  pavement,  then  the  sound  of  his 
flying  feet,  loud  at  first,  and  then  dying  away 
into  the  silence. 


185 


n 

-- 


AVING  fulfilled  his  purpose  in 
life,  the  Shi  mad  zu  was  ready, 
eager,  for  his  own  self-immola- 
tion. He  had  prepared  for  this 
event  with  strict  observance  of 
an  elaborate  etiquette,  just  as 
he,  a  samurai,  would  have  pre- 
pared for  any  event  of  impor- 
tance in  his  life. 

The  little  house  had  been 
thoroughly  cleansed  and  white- 
washed. Fresh  mats  of  straw 
had  been  laid  upon  the  floor, 
and  the  walls  were  recovered. 
To  admit  the  sunshine,  and  the 
air  of  the  out -door  world,  the 
windows  were  thrown  wide  apart. 

."     -~  3fe-       . ..  TH      , .   H5T~ 
186 


THE -WOOING  pf  VJ5TAPJA 

Shimadzu  produced  an  ancient  chest,  from 
which  he  brought  forth  rare  and  costly  old 
garments,  emblazoned  with  the  crests  of  a 
proud  family,  and  a  pair  of  very  long  swords. 
The  hilts  were  of  black  lacquer.  The  guard, 
ferule,  cleats,  and  rivets  were  richly  inlaid 
and  embossed  in  rare  metals.  But  the  beau- 
tiful blades  were  the  parts  which  shone  out  in 
their  noble,  classic  beauty.  They  were  ex- 
tremely narrow,  glossy,  and  brittle  as  icicles. 
The  very  sight  of  them  would  have  awakened 
a  feeling  of  heroism  and  awe  in  the  bosom 
of  one  less  alive  to  what  they  signified  than 
Shimadzu.  They  were,  in  fact,  two  swords 
which,  belonging  to  a  hundred  ancestors  of 
Shimadzu,  had  been  used  only  in  the  most 
glorious  service. 

"The  girded  sword  is  the  soul  of  the  sa- 
murai," and  Shimadzu  muttered  an  ancient 
saying.  It  had  been  long  since  he  lost  the 
right  to  wear  them  through  his  marriage  into 
the  Eta  class,  and  now  he  regarded  them  with 
such  intense  emotion  that  fierce  tears  blinded 
his  eyesight. 

Reverently,  tenderly,  he  lifted  them  to  a 
place  upon  a  white  table  before  a  shrine  in 
his  own  chamber.  Then  with  a  low  groan 
he  prostrated  himself  before  them,  rather  than 
the  figure  of  the  Daibutsu,  which  placidly 
rested  upon  the  small  throne. 

In  his  inmost  soul,  this  samurai  felt  he  had 
done  a  good  and  righteous  thing  in  achieving 


~r? —  , 

«*  187 


his  vengeance,  even  though  the  innocent  were 
sacrificed.  Trained  as  he  had  been  in  the 
harsh  school  of  the  samurai,  in  which  self- 
J  denial,  contempt  for  pleasure  and  gain,  scorn 
of  death  or  physical  hurt,  and  the  righteous 
vengeance  upon  an  enemy  were  esteemed 
virtues,  he  was  steeled  against  all  fear  and 
pain.  His  conscience  was  satisfied  with  itself. 

After  his  silent  prayer,  he  rose  to  his  feet 
very  calmly  and  with  a  degree  of  solemnity. 
He  had  gathered  fresh  strength  from  his 
prayer.  The  ceremony  of  hari-kari  he  per- 
formed with  grave  dignity  and  punctilious- 
ness. 

First  of  all,  he  gently  lifted  the  two  swords 
and  held  them  in  the  sun,  their  knightly 
significance  strong  in  his  mind.  One  was  to 
use  against  all  enemies  of  his  lord,  the  other 
held  ever  in  readiness  to  turn  upon  himself 
in  atonement  for  fault  or  faintest  suspicion 
of  dishonor,  or,  as  in  his  case,  when  a  duty 
has  been  fulfilled  and  honorable  death  is 
desired  as  a  crowning  end. 

The  samurai  Shimadzu  was  without  a  lord, 
or,  rather,  he  disdained  and  cursed  the  one 
under  whom  he  should  have  served.  Hence 
he  broke  into  a  dozen  pieces  one  of  the  two  * 
swords,  spurning  the  glittering  pieces  with 
his  foot. 

Then  silently  he  disrobed  to  the  waist. 
Very  slowly  and  precisely  he  pressed  the  sword 
into  his  body  so  that  he  might  lose  none  of 


188 


! 


the  pain,  which  he  would  have  scorned  to 
resist.  No  moan  escaped  his  lips.  No  muscle 
of  his  face  quivered. 

As  the  sword  sank  deeper  his  brain  whirled 
with  the  dizziness  of  nausea,  but,  still  stiff 
and  relentless,  his  arm  obeyed  the  will  of  his 
soul,  even  continuing  mechanically  to  do  so 
when  his  head  had  fallen  backward  into  semi- 
unconsciousness.  He  was  one  hour  and  a 
half  in  dying.  No  words  could  describe  the 
excruciating  nature  of  such  pains.  Certainly, 
as  a  samurai,  his  was  a  fitting  end. 

Such  was  the  nature  of  this  people  that  to 
his  friends  and  relatives  his  act  ,was  regarded 
as  an  honorable  and  admirable  thing.  Had 
he  faltered  in  its  accomplishment  they  would 
have  urged  him  to  the  deed,  entreating  him 
to  save  himself  from  the  stigma  of  dishon- 
or which  would  otherwise  smirch  his  good 
name. 

The  following  day  a  large  number  of  Catzu 
samurai  and  vassals  marched  through  the 
Eta  settlement  and  ascended  the  small  hill 
upon  which  stood  the  house  of  the  public  ex- 
ecutioner. The  body  of  the  samurai  was  car- 
ried with  the  utmost  respect  and  reverence 
from  the  Eta  house,  whence  a  train,  bearing 
it  in  due  state,  departed  for  Catzu. 

From  the  Eta  house  the  Lady  Wistaria,  too, 
was  carried.  Her  train  was  even  more  like 
a  funeral  procession  than  that  of  her  father; 
for  those  who  carried  her  norimon  and  who 


x 


189 


TtfE  .WO.OJNO  OJP  VJSTAR) A 


followed  in  its  wake  had  long  been  her  per- 
sonal attendants  and  servitors.  Now,  because 
of  their  love  for  her,  they  wept  at  almost  every 
step  of  the  journey. 

The  two  mournful  processions  left  the  Eta 
settlement  side  by  side,  but  their  different  des- 
tinations led  to  their  parting  company  at  the 
base  of  the  hill.  The  one  carrying  the  dead 
samurai  turned  in  the  direction  of  Catzu. 
There,  fitting  ceremonies  were  to  be  given  to 
the  departed  soul  of  Shimadzu,  after  which 
he  would  be  interred  in  the  mortuary  hall  of 
his  ancestors. 

The  train  of  the  Lady  Wistaria  turned  to 
the  south,  travelling  many  miles  over  bare 
and  uninhabited  regions,  over  plains,  past 
hamlets  and  small  towns  and  villages,  on 
towards  the  mountains  of  the  south. 

While  the  last  rays  of  the  setting  sun  were 
still  illumining  the  west,  the  cortege  of  the 
new  Princess  of  Mori  entered  a  forest  of  ever- 
green pines.  When  it  emerged,  the  darken- 
ing sky  had  deepened  its  colors  until  a  melan- 
choly calm  wrapped  the  land  in  an  effulgent 
glow.  The  moon  had  risen  on  high  and  was 
shimmering  out  its  holy  light.  The  earth,  re- 
flecting its  gleam,  seemed  a  tableau  of  silent 
silver. 

They  had  reached  a  beautiful  and  tranquil 
hill.  At  the  top,  above  the  pines  and  cedars 
enclosing  it  in  nature's  own  sacred  wall,  the 
amber  peaks  of  a  celestial  temple,  with  its 


X 


190 


VflSTAPJA     n 


myriad   slanting   lights,    pointed   upward  in 
the  sky.     Their  journey  was  ended. 

Very  still  now  stood  the  cortege.  Low  and 
deeply  bent  stood  the  silent  attendants,  as 
with  streaming  eyes  they  gazed  longingly 
upon  the  slight  young  figure  which  the  samu- 
rai Genji,  almost  bowed  over  with  personal 
grief,  assisted  to  alight  from  the  norimon. 
In  her  white  robes  the  Lady  Wistaria  seemed  a 
spirit  as  she  stood  there  under  the  moonbeams. 
Mutely  she  looked  about  her.  As  the  muffled 
sobs  of  her  servitors  reached  her  ears,  she 
wrung  her  hands  with  an  unconscious  gesture 
of  anguish  greater  than  their  own. 

As  if  in  sympathy  with  the  intense  sadness 
over  all  who  were  there,  nature  herself  seemed 
to  show  signs  of  her  own  distress.  Clouds 
rolled  over  the  skies  above  the  mountains, 
veiling  the  moon  and  the  star  beams.  A 
little  river  that  flowed  at  the  foot  of  the  hill 
was  heard  sobbing  as  it  rolled  with  a  mournful 
sound  over  its  rapids. 

But  the  lights  twinkled  out  warmly  from 
the  temple  beyond,  and  a  white-robed  priest- 
ess was  descending  to  welcome  the  novitiate. 
An  odor  of  sweet  incense,  such  as  of  umegaku 
or  tambo,  was  wafted  to  the  watchers  on  the 
hill  from  the  temple  doors.  Wistaria  turned 
her  face  towards  it.  Then  back  again  she 
directed  her  glance  to  her  kneeling  servitors. 
Her  voice  was  as  soft  and  gentle  as  a  bene- 
diction. 


191 


„    THE- 


"  Pray  thee  "  she  said,  "  to  take  care  of  your 
honorable  healths.  Sayonara!"  • 

She  hesitated  on  the  threshold  of  the  temple. 
Then  silently  she  entered  the  place  of  tranquil 
rest  amid  the  shadows  of  the  mountains. 


192 


HE  Prince  Keiki  had  been  on 
the  highway  three  days  before 
4  he  became  again  something 
more  than  an  unconscious  au- 
tomaton. After  the  first  great 
shock  of  Wistaria's  revelation 
had  passed  from  him,  there  had 
come  a  desperate  terror  and 
horror  which  seemed  to  numb 
his  faculties.  For  several  days 
he  was  not  conscious  of  any- 
thing either  within  or  without 
him.  There  was  no  anguish 
in  his  heart  or  intelligence  in 
his  brain.  His  memory  of 
events  succeeding  Wistaria's  un- 
masking, as  he  believed  it,  was 

1 -i 3 —      — *• 

. 5fc JL- «t—      +r 


TOE  -WaojNG  OF  VflSTAPJ  A 


as  vague  as  the  tangled  threads  of  a  dream. 
He  had  fallen  into  that  apathetic  lethargy  with 
which  he  had  been  afflicted  upon  his  arrest. 

He  had,  it  is  true,  uncertain  recollections 
of  a  place  passed  on  the  way,  or  of  a  halt  here 
and  refreshment  there,  but  he  could  not  assert 
that  they  were  real.  He  might  have  dreamed 
them.  He  could  not  tell. 

Then  Keiki  returned  to  his  normal  being. 
He  awoke  as  from  a  troubled  sleep  to  a  world 
of  torment.  Could  he  have  slept,  and,  sleep- 
ing, have  imagined  the  events  with  which  the 
name  Wistaria  was  repulsively  associated? 
No!  It  was,  alas,  all  too  true.  He  must  bear 
it.  As  the  first  sharp  anguish  of  his  awaken- 
ing passed  away,  there  came  visions  to  com- 
fort Keiki. 

When  what  he  termed  in  after  years  his 
great  awakening  burst  upon  him,  he  found 
himself  walking  down  a  muddy  road  which 
led,  his  sense  of  locality  told  him,  south  to  his 
province  of  Choshui.  It  was  raining,  fierce- 
ly, sullenly.  Almost  with  a  feeling  of  relief, 
Keiki  found  that  he  was  wet.  It  gave  him 
new  life  and  new  courage  to  do  some  simple 
elemental  thing,  such  as  drawing  his  cape 
tighter,  closer  about  him.  Then,  as  he  battled 
against  the  wind  and  the  driving  rain,  a  fierce 
joy  came  to  him.  He  was  wise  in  the  wisdom 
of  suffering.  His  life  should  be  devoted  to  the 
cause.  No  woman  should  destroy  the  signif- 
icance life  held  for  him. 


194 


TOE 


Too  long  had  he  tarried  with  inclination. 
He  had  pictured  to  himself  a  beautiful  high- 
way through  life,  upon  which  Wistaria  should 
tread  by  his  side.  She  was  lost  forever.  The 
rough  path,  the  developing  path  of  struggle, 
should  be  his.  He  would  not  falter.  He 
would  be  true  first  to  himself,  his  higher  self, 
and  then  to  the  holy  cause  of  his  country. 
Patriotism  and  the  restoration  of  rightful  rule 
to  the  Mikado  should  guide  him  in  every  act. 
The  events  through  which  he  had  passed  had 
consecrated  him  anew.  His  life  could  not  be 
taken;  he  could  not  fail,  until  all  had  been 
accomplished. 

In  the  new  life  which  he  was  about  to  enter 
his  course  would  not  always  be  plain ;  he  would 
not  always  be  understood.  For  that  he  must 
be  prepared. 

When  the  Prince  Keiki  had  thus  settled  the 
past  and  ordered  the  future,  he  began  to  take 
cognizance  of  outward  conditions,  as  became 
him  now.  It  was  wet,  and  growing  dark.  He 
must  seek  shelter  for  the  night.  Turning  aside 
from  the  highway,  Keiki  asked  the  simple 
hospitality  of  the  country-side  from  a  little 
house  hard  by  the  path  of  travel.  Although 
it  was  long  past  the  hour  of  their  evening 
meal,  the  good  dwellers  in  the  cottage  sent 
their  daughter  to  the  rear  of  the  house  to  pre- 
pare food  for  the  hungry  Prince. 

Sitting  alone  in  a  corner,  Keiki,  waited  upon 
by  the  little  maiden,  found  a  quiet  and  comfort  L 


195 


TOE  »WQQJNG  <y  VQSTARIA    n 


that  three  days  ago  he  would  have  thought 
impossible.  A  strange  comfort  exhales  from 
a  perfectly  appointed  meal  after  the  heart  has 
been  tried.  It  is  the  acme  of  despair,  the 
realization  of  one's  duty  to  one's  self.  Keiki, 
absorbed  in  these  fantastic  reflections,  sud- 
denly became  conscious  of  the  fact  that  for 
several  minutes  past  the  little  maid  had  been 
making  strange  signals  to  him.  Seeing  this, 
he  signed  to  her  to  advance.  She  did  so, 
but  in  a  faltering  and  almost  fearful  fashion. 
When  near  enough  to  him  to  speak  without 
being  overheard,  she  glanced  in  terror  at  his 
face  and  slipped  to  the  ground,  where  she  pros- 
trated herself  at  his  feet,  her  head  nodding  in 
frantic  motions  of  servility. 

"Why,  what  is  this?"  ejaculated  the  Prince, 
displeased. 

"Y — your  highness!"  she  gasped. 

"  Speak,"  said  Keiki,  sternly.  "  You  appear 
desirous  of  serving  me.  What  is  it?" 

She  rose  tremblingly. 

"  You  must  not  tarry  here  long,"  she  whis- 
pered. "  The  spies  of  the  Shogun  are  about." 

"Ha!" 

"It  is  broadly  reported  that  the  Shining 
Prince  Keiki  has  escaped  his  fate.  The  roads 
are  beset.  They  are  tracking  his  footsteps. 
Even  now  some  of  them  are  before  the  house. 
Oh,  my  lord,  I  know  you  to  resemble  too  closely 
the  Shining  Prince  for  you  to  linger  here. 
We — the  whole  country — are  in  sympathy  with 

3-~         Jb        ..      jfc.  T=: 5T          "X. 

196  «* 


*& 


VJStAPJA     « 

3  -*•         \      >:a 


thee  and  would  befriend  thee,  but  the  sho- 
gunate  —  She  broke  off,  her  fear  and  dis- 
tress completely  overpowering  her. 

Keiki  laid  an  alert  hand  upon  his  sword. 

"None  may  take  me  now,"  he  said,  de- 
fiantly, "for  I  am  become  invincible." 

"Come!"  urged  the  little  maid. 

"Whither?"  inquired  the  Prince. 

Pushing  aside  the  doors  at  the  rear,  she 
led  Keiki  into  the  garden.  Passing  through 
it,  they  came  to  a  wall.  The  maid  spoke. 

"Climb  this,  turn  to  the  west.  Go  along 
the  road  a  bit  until  you  come  to  a  cross-path. 
Take  that,  and  you  will  come  out  upon  your 
southern  route  below  the  danger  point.  I— 

There  was  a  movement  in  the  bushes  behind. 

"Oh,  all  the  gods!"  she  cried.  "It  is  too 
late,  I  fear!" 

"What  do  you  there?"  a  voice,  stern  with 
threatening,  demanded  from  the  bushes.  The 
maid  responded: 

"Peace  to  thee!  I  do  but  bid  farewell  to 
my  lover." 

A  laugh  answered. 

"Do  not  fear,  maiden.  We  do  not  disturb 
cooing  birds,"  came  from  the  bushes,  and  a 
drawn  sword  was  shifted  from  hand  to  hand, 
carelessly. 

The  warm  blood  surged  about  the  temples 
of  Keiki.  Because  of  the  perfidy  of  Wistaria, 
he  would  accept  no  service  from  her  sex. 

"I  did  not  need  thy  lie,  maiden,"  he  said. 


197 


op  V)£7APJA 


Then  to  those  in  the  bushes  he  shouted: 

"  I  am  he  whom  you  seek,  the  Prince  Keiki. 
Come,  take  me!" 

As  he  spoke,  he  hurled  his  cape  to  the  ground 
and  rested  his  sword  with  its  point  upon  his 
sandalled  foot.  Quick  as  was  his  action,  it 
was  met  by  those  lurking  in  hiding.  Three 
forms  glided  out  from  the  bushes.  Three 
blades  flashed  towards  him.  Keiki 's  quick 
eye  perceived  that  those  attacking  him  wore 
but  one  sword.  They  were  evidently  merely 
Shogun  spies  or  common  soldiery.  Their 
clumsy  handling  of  their  swords  filled  his  soul 
with  a  wild  elation.  He  would  have  some  play 
with  these  vassals — he,  Keiki,  the  most  ex- 
quisite swordsman  in  Japan,  and  the  most 
finished  Jiujutsu  student. 

"  Come  hither— hither ! "  he  taunted.  "  With- 
out dishonor  ye  may  yield  yourselves  to  me, 
Keiki,  the  invincible!" 

A  savage  yell  replied.  In  imagination,  per- 
haps, the  Shogun  spies  saw  the  glittering  price 
of  the  Prince's  head  within  their  hands.  They 
closed  with  him. 

The  hand  of  Keiki  instantly  snatched  the 
second  sword  from  his  belt.  -  With  a  sword 
in  each  hand  he  met  the  advance.  The  sword 
in  his  right  hand  met  and  parried  the  initial 
blows  and  thrusts  of  his  two  adversaries;  the 
sword  in  his  left  met  the  blade  of  the  third, 
and,  though  it  could  not  attack,  maintained 
an  effective  defence. 


f 


TOE  .WOOJNG  of?  VJSTAPJ  A     n 


The  attacking  swordsmen  were  startled. 
Such  a  thing  was  beyond  the  traditions  of 
the  samurai,  and  a  feat  wellnigh  impossible. 

Of  a  sudden  the  blade  of  the  first  of  Keiki's 
adversaries  dealt  a  vicious  blow.  Keiki  met 
it  with  his  left-hand  sword,  and  before  the 
blade  could  be  recovered  by  his  enemy  the 
sword  in  his  right  hand  had  turned  to  the 
second  adversary.  This  one,  unprepared  for 
Keiki's  sudden  onslaught,  fell  back,  with  his 
sword-arm  severed  at  the  wrist.  Again  the 
first  antagonist  thrust;  Keiki  met  him.  He 
now  had  an  antagonist  on  either  side  of  him, 
at  points  nearly  opposite.  He  answered  the 
blow  of  the  one  with  the  first  of  his  two  swords, 
while  the  other  recovered  his  blade.  There 
could  be  only  one  issue  to  such  unequal  combat. 
The  position  of  his  adversaries  would  not 
permit  Keiki  to  fight  them  with  one  sword 
alone.  Alive  to  the  necessities  of  his  position, 
Keiki  kept  slowly  turning  as  his  opponents 
tried  to  take  him  from  behind.  Suddenly 
Keiki  fell  upon  his  left  knee,  as  though  over- 
come, while  with  his  right-hand  sword  he  kept 
up  a  vigorous  attack.  The  sword  in  his  left 
hand  became  feebler,  weaker  in  its  move- 
ments. Thinking  Keiki  affected  by  some  of 
the  numerous  small  wounds  with  which  he 
was  covered  despite  his  defence,  the  soldier  on 
Keiki's  left  rushed  in  to  despatch  him,  leaving 
himself  but  poorly  guarded.  The  sword  op- 
posed to  him  became  swiftly  active.  It  passed 


G  of  VflSTAFUA 


into  the  breast  of  the  samurai,  where  Keiki, 
glad  that  its  necessity  was  over,  allowed  it  to 
remain. 

Quickly  regaining  his  feet,  the  Prince  de- 
voted himself  to  his  remaining  enemy,  who 
was  a  better  swordsman  than  the  others. 

"Yield!"  threatened  Keiki,  as  he  dealt  a 
furious  blow  at  the  other's  head. 

His  antagonist  laughed.  Immediately 
Keiki  thrust  in  quick  succession  at  the  other's 
breast,  head,  and  throat.  His  first  blow  was 
parried.  The  second  at  the  head  was  a  feint. 
As  the  soldier  raised  his  sword  to  meet  it, 
Keiki,  unopposed,  thrust  through  his  throat. 
He  fell. 

Breathing  heavily  from  his  exertion,  Keiki 
looked  about  him  for  the  maid,  and  the  spy 
whose  hand  he  had  severed.  He  found  the 
maiden  bending  over  the  lifeless  body  of  his 
antagonist.  From  her  hand  a  small  dagger 
slipped  to  the  ground.  Satisfied  as  to  her 
safety,  Keiki  quickly  drew  out  his  left  sword 
from  the  breast  of  his  opponent.  Then  with- 
out a  word  he  climbed  the  wall  and  took  the 
southern  route  again,  disdaining  to  follow  the 
directions  of  his  late  hostess. 

In  a  rice  -  field  farther  down  the  road  he 
bound  up  his  wounds  with  the  torn  lining  of 
his  haori.  Through  the  larger  part  of  the 
following  day  he  slept. 

Alarmed  by  the  recent  occurrences  at  the 
little  house  by  the  highway,  Keiki,  who  be- 

*di        •     \  '  afc.—          i  ^r~  . 

200 


VJSTARJA 

^  \ 


lieved  that  the  Shogun  had  put  a  price  upon 
his  head,  now  travelled  only  at  night.  The 
days  he  spent  in  sleep,  and  in  locating,  without 
exposing  himself  too  much,  the  scenes  of  forag- 
ing expeditions  made  at  night  through  which 
he  managed  to  secure  the  means  of  sustenance. 

The  vigorous  and  unnatural  fight  through 
which  he  had  just  passed  had  a  further  in- 
vigorating effect  upon  him.  Before  that  he 
had  been  near  to  death  in  his  thoughts  —  death 
for  the  cause.  Now  he  resolved  in  fresh  and 
vigorous  determination  to  live  —  and  to  live 
gloriously  for  the  greatest  cause  that  had 
ever  made  a  pulse  to  leap  in  Japan. 

At  dusk  on  the  fifth  day  after  the  fight, 
Keiki  set  forth  upon  the  last  stage  of  his  jour- 
ney. He  was  now  near  to  the  borders  of  the 
Choshui  province.  A  few  hours  later  he 
reckoned  that  he  had  crossed  the  boundary 
and  was  well  within  the  limits  of  his  father's 
country,  when  there  came  to  him  the  sound 
of  swords  clashing  beyond  a  turn  in  the  road. 
Keiki,  now  grown  cautious,  skirted  the  spot 
through  a  field,  and  then  crept  within  sight  of 
the  place. 

Five  men  were  pitted  against  three,  while 
on  the  road  lay  the  bodies  of  two  more.  Keiki 
had  made  up  his  mind  to  aid  the  lesser  par- 
ty, when  an  exclamation  in  well  -  remembered 
tones  came  to  him.  It  was  from  one  of  the 
lesser  party,  old  Hashimoto,  a  trusted  follower 
of  his  father. 


201 


\WSTAR)  A 


In  a  moment  Keiki  was  in  the  road.  Be- 
fore either  party  were  aware  of  his  presence, 
he  had  killed  two  of  the  larger  number. 

"  I  aid  thee!"  he  shouted,  as  with  his  father's 
men  he  engaged  the  despised  Shogun  follow- 
ers. Speedily  another  of  their  number  fell. 
The  four  obtained  the  easy  surrender  of  the 
others. 

Hashimoto  approached  the  Prince. 

"We  thank  thee  for  thy  aid — "  he  began. 
Then,  recognizing  Keiki,  he  started  back  a 
pace  and  fell  upon  his  knees. 

"My  noble  prince!  My  master!"  he  cried, 
as  he  caught  his  robe  and  reverently  pressed 
it  to  his  lips. 

"  Thy  master?"  repeated  Keiki.  "  My  father, 
what  of  him?" 

"Taken,  your  highness." 

"Taken?" 

"After  the  rumors  of  your  capture,  your 
highness,  we  at  once  determined  to  raise  the 
Imperial  standard  against  the  Shogun,  and 
your  father — " 

"  But  we  were  not  ready.  None  of  our  plans 
had  been  carried  out!"  cried  the  Prince. 

Hashimoto  answered: 

"  True,  your  highness,  but  your  father  was 
promised  the  assistance  of  most  of  the  south- 
ern clans.  Consequently  he  seized  a  number 
of  Buddhist  monasteries  and  cast  their  huge 
bronze  bells  into  cannon.  His  undertaking 
was  revealed  to  the  Shogun  before  our  allies 

J  >  ^  *  JE — - 

202 


could  join  us,  and  he  was  surprised  and  taken 
captive." 

"He  serves  a  sentence?" 

"He  was  sentenced,  your  highness.  But 
the  gods  have  anticipated — he  is  dead." 

Keiki  threw  off  his  cape,  which  Hashimoto 
respectfully  lifted. 

"  Attend  me  to  the  fortress,"  he  commanded. 

The  followers  bowed  deeply.  Suddenly 
Keiki  raised  his  voice. 

"  Daigi  Meibunor !  The  Shogun  shall  die ! " 
he  cried. 

The  followers  answered  with  a  cheer. 

With  head  bowed  in  deep  thought,  Keiki 
led  the  way  towards  the  principal  fortress  and 
castle  of  the  Mori. 


203 


PON  his  return  to  the  fortress, 
Keiki,  as  the  capable  and  de- 
voted leader  of  the  cause  of  Im- 
perialism, was  deferred  to  by  his 
brothers.  He  at  once  assumed 
in  his  own  right  the  command 
of  the  resources  of  the  clan. 

The  household  was  put  upon 
a  footing  even  more  military 
than  before.  Regular  watch 
was  kept  at  all  points  of  the 
estate  and  at  the  boundaries 
of  the  province.  Reports  of 
all  crossing  the  boundaries  of 
the  province  in  either  direction 
were  made  to  Keiki  each  morn- 
ing. 

"sfc-  (  f 

204 


V1STAPJA 


An  army  of  laborers  impressed  into  service 
from  the  Mori  as  well  as  the  friendly  southern 
provinces  were  put  to  work  strengthening  the 
defences  of  the  Mori  fortress,  now  become  the 
war  headquarters  of  the  Imperial  party. 

The  castle  itself,  situated  within  the  centre 
of  the  province,  approach  to  which  on  all  sides 
must  be  made  through  friendly  provinces, 
with  the  exception  of  the  Catzu,  because  of 
its  natural  defensive  properties,  became  the 
nucleus  for  a  host  of  outworks  sheltering  the 
activities  of  Keiki.  Within  the  line  of  for- 
tifications surrounding  the  immediate  vicinity 
of  the  fortress  were  j.he  factories  and  foun- 
dries now  built  by  those  who  acknowledged 
Keiki  as  their  leader.  For  while  all  this  owed 
its  inception  to  the  Shining  Prince,  it  could 
not  be  carried  out  with  his  resources  alone. 
The  neighboring  clans,  whose  lords  in  the 
past  had  held  equal  and  superior  rank  to  the 
Shogun,  sent  of  their  best  to  the  Prince  of 
Mori.  The  clans  of  Satsuma,  Ozumi,  Hinga, 
Nagate,  Suwo,  the  Liu  Kiu  Islands,  and  others 
ordered  their  artisans  and  mariners  to  Keiki  's 
headquarters. 

The  old  Prince  of  Satsuma,  more  learned 
in  European  civilization  than  Keiki  (although 
Choshui  was  the  home  in  Japan  of  Dutch 
sciences),  was  the  Prince's  preceptor.  Under 
his  direction  the  cannon  foundries,  whose 
weapons  of  war  were  to  oust  the  Shogun,  were 
built.  A  sort  of  light  rifle  designed  by  Sat- 


205 


THE  .WOQIISG  or  \fl3TAR)  A     n 

~<£  3fe '_          J£.  -•  %  1!  jt~^ 

suma  was  manufactured  under  his  direction 
near  Keiki 's  fortress.  The  castle,  which  in 
time  of  war  would  afford  protection  to  all  these 
works  and  foundries,  was  reduced  in  the  num- 
ber of  its  living  apartments.  These  were  sit- 
uated within  the  inmost  recesses.  All  about 
the  old  portions  of  the  house  were  built  broad 
platforms.  Upon  their  edges  were  set  stone 
walls  with  openings  for  cannon.  These,  as 
fast  as  they  came  from  the  foundry,  were 
set  in  tiers  so  arranged  that  they  could  com- 
mand the  approaches  to  the  large  circle,  within 
which  were  set  the  factories  and  works  of  the 
Imperialists. 

In  the  midst  of  these  activities  Keiki  found 
relief  from  the  flood  of  memories  that  other- 
wise might  have  overwhelmed  him.  He  felt 
that  now  he  was  rising  to  true  greatness.  For 
him  personally,  selfishly,  life  held  nothing. 
It  was  for  his  country  he  labored.  So  austere 
and  unbending  was  his  demeanor,  that  for 
months  after  his  return  his  brothers  forebore 
to  speak  of  the  message  that  had  come  during 
his  absence. 

But  one  evening  as  he  sat  in  his  chamber 
alone,  within  the  centre  of  the  fortress,  his 
brother,  Komozawa,  came  to  him  and  held  out 
in  silence  the  letter  which  had  disturbed  them. 
Keiki  read  sufficient  to  ascertain  its  tenor. 
Then  gently  he  laid  it  aside.  There  was  no 
passion  to  his  tones  or  manner  as  he  said, 
coldly : 

206 


TflE.WOQHNG  Of  NWSTAR1A     n 

"Brother,  whatever  truth  or  falsity  may 
lie  in  this  epistle  is  of  the  past,  and  con- 
cerns me  alone.  It  cannot  affect  the  future. 
Speak  to  me  no  more  of  the  leaves  of  last 
autumn." 

"But — "  began  the  brother,  timidly. 

Keiki  sprang  to  his  feet.  There  was  a 
cloud  upon  his  brow,  dark  and  threatening. 
His  sword  showed  half  its  bare  length. 

"  Not  a  word,"  he  said,  "  or,  dearly  as  I  love 
you,  this  blade  shall  give  you  explanation." 

Komozawa  bowed  submissively  and  retired. 

In  the  thoughts  that  the  words  of  his  broth- 
er had  called  into  being  Keiki  was  led  to  re- 
member the  imprisoned  Toro,  whose  existence 
he  had  forgotten.  Immediately  he  ordered  the 
youth  before  him. 

To  his  surprise  he  found  that  Toro,  in- 
stead of  appearing  sullen  or  dejected,  was 
quite  cheerful  and  optimistic.  He  greeted  the 
Prince  with  so  much  bonhomie  and  frank- 
ness that  Keiki  was  puzzled  at  first  to  know 
how  to  treat  him. 

"  Toro,"  he  said,  "  I  have  come  to  a  decision 
regarding  you." 

"That  is  good,"  said  Toro,  at  once,  "for  I 
really  am  becoming  interested  in  my  pros- 
pects." 

"  And  what  are  your  prospects?"  said  Keiki. 

Toro  fingered  his  sash  buoyantly,  and  as- 
sumed the  attitude  of  a  gay  spark. 

"  Well,  if  it  please  you,  my  lord,  I  should 

=^L  i     &-  I  •* 

207 


THE  -WOOING  of?  V)S7AR)A 


wish  to  remain  in  Choshui,  but  at  peace 
and  liberty,  pray  understand." 

Keiki  frowned  impatiently,  but  Toro  remain- 
ed apparently  unconcerned. 

"In  fact/'  he  added,  ingenuously,  "I  would 
very  much  like  to  remain  in  Choshui  as  a 
guest  —  such  as  your  excellency  was  in  my  own 
province.  I  do  assure  you,  my  lord,  that  I 
have  not  been  treated  with  the  equal  hospi- 
tality and  courtesy  offered  to  your  highness 
in  Catzu." 

"It  is  impossible  for  you  to  remain  here," 
said  Keiki;  "matters  have  changed." 

"  Then  let  me  recall  a  certain  promise  made 
to  me  by  your  excellency.  For  my  services 
in  your  behalf  with  my  lady  cousin  in  Catzu, 
you  in  return  —  " 

He  stopped  abruptly,  held  by  the  expression 
on  the  other's  face.  For  the  first  time  he  per- 
ceived that  the  Prince  was  in  an  unnatural 
state  of  mind. 

"Wistaria,  my  lord  —  what  of  her?  You  do 
not  mean  to  tell  me  that  you  failed  in  your 
suit!" 

With  a  sob  in  which  no  tears  intermingled, 
Keiki  raised  his  sword,  only  to  drop  it,  groan- 
ing inwardly. 

"Return  to  your  father,  Toro.  Be  warned 
by  me  that  this  is  best.  " 

"But  I  wish  to  repeat  that  your  highness 
promised  —  " 

"  Listen.     If  you  remain  here,  your  life  will 


208 


l          T        •& 

IT 


» 

•V 


not  be  safe.  Do  not  further  protest.  I  will 
say  this,  that  if  your  lordship  does  not  care 
to  follow  my  suggestion,  I  shall  be  forced  to 
eject  you  or  allow  my  officers  to  deal  with  you.'' 

Toro  shrugged  angry  shoulders,  a  gesture 
to  Keiki  reminiscent  of  his  mother.  The 
action  displeased  him.  Sharply  he  clapped 
his  hands.  To  the  officers  answering  his  sum- 
mons he  said,  briefly: 

"  Be  good  enough  to  have  my  Lord  of  Catzu 
taken  to  Catzu  under  such  escort  as  he  may 
require."  To  Toro  he  bowed  perfunctorily: 
"Good-day,  my  lord." 

The  preparations  and  activities  of  the  past 
few  months  had  brought  all  within  the  domi- 
nation of  Keiki  to  active  readiness  for  war. 
Keiki  himself  was  now  of  greater  value  to 
his  cause,  since  old  Satsuma  had  taught  him 
all  he  knew  —  the  result  of  years  of  Euro- 
pean study  and  reading  —  of  the  making  of 
the  munitions  of  war.  The  lingering  disease 
which  threatened  Satsuma  need  carry  no  fear 
to  the  Imperialists.  Keiki,  the  disciple  and 
heir  in  knowledge  to  Satsuma,  could  well 
cope  with  any  man  in  the  world  in  the  utiliza- 
tion of  the  war  resources  at  his  hand. 

Only  a  pretext,  a  happening  that  should 
afford  the  opening  wedge  for  war,  was  wanting 
to  the  Imperialists.  The  public  mind  must 
be  quieted  by  the  outbreak  of  hostilities  as  the 
logical  outcome  of  some  event,  not  as  a  sudden, 
uncaused  outburst. 


It  was  during  these  days  of  waiting  that  the 
old  Lord  Satsuma  sought  Keiki  out  in  the 
interior  of  the  fortress.  There  was  an  evident 
perturbation  and  embarrassment  manifest  in 
his  bearing.  Keiki,  alarmed  lest  some  ac- 
cident should  have  endangered  one  of  the 
projects  of  the  labor  of  years,  started  upon 
sight  of  his  hereditary  friend. 

"My  Lord  Satsuma,  is  it  ill  with  you?"  he 
inquired  with  solicitude. 

He  noted  that  the  face  of  Satsuma  showed 
as  never  before  that  its  master  would  never 
live  to  see  the  Restoration.  This  thought  sad- 
dened him. 

Satsuma,  though  in  some  pain,  smiled 
gently. 

"Ill  indeed  it  is  with  me,"  he  said. 

Keiki  reached  out  and  impulsively  seized 
the  hand  of  the  old  warrior,  pressing  it  with 
sj^mpathy  that  words  could  not  have  expressed. 

"I  may  not  be  with  you,"  continued  Sat- 
suma, "on  the  day  of  the  bakufu's  undoing." 

"Nay,  do  not  say  so." 

"It  is  so,  nevertheless,"  said  Satsuma.  "I 
must  go  before — " 

"My  lord,  it  is  but  the  common  lot — the 
common  happiness  of  life  to  give  up,  to  cease 
to  struggle.  Your  achievements  have  been 
many.  This  rifle  by  my  hand,  that  cannon 
in  the  embrasure,  all  these  will  speak  for  you 
with  terrible  effect  after  you  yourself  are  long 
silent." 

—  **.     '         a  -«£•  i  **  rr 

210  «* 


"Prince  Keiki,  it  is  not  for  myself  I  think 
thus  sadly  of  life  and  death.  I  have  a 
daughter.  We  are  on  the  eve  of  war,  the 
country  is  unsettled.  I  cannot  leave  her  un- 
protected to  share  its  uncertain  fate." 

"But  surely,"  said  Keiki,  with  a  mild  sur- 
prise, "your  daughter  will  be  well  cared  for 
among  her  many  honorable  relations." 

"Alas,  no,  that  is  not  possible.  Her  step- 
mother is  ill  disposed  towards  her,  and  all 
of  her  brothers  are  pressed  into  the  Imperialist 
service. " 

"This  is  very  sad,"  said  Keiki,  "and  if  it 
were  in  my  power  to  aid  you  I  would  beseech 
you  to  command  me  immediately." 

"  It  is  possible  for  your  highness  to  aid  me," 
said  Satsuma,  slowly. 

"How?  Let  me  know  at  once  how  I  can 
do  so." 

"By  permitting  my  insignificant  daughter 
to  have  the  personal  protection  of  so  chival- 
rous a  prince  as  your  excellency." 

"My  personal  protection!"  exclaimed  Keiki; 
"but  I  am  engaged  in  the  work  of  warfare." 

"  True,  but  my  lady  would  not  distract  you 
from  these  tasks.  Her  presence  in  the  fortress 
need  scarcely  be  felt." 

Keiki  sprang  to  his  feet  and  began  to  pace 
the  apartment  in  a  perturbed  manner.  Under 
his  thick  brows  old  Satsuma  regarded  him 
keenly. 

"My  lord."  said  Keiki,  stopping  suddenly 

-a A gfc *          3^= 

211 


MWSTAR1A 


in  his  walk,  "  your  suggestion  gives  me  much 
pain,  because  I  am  unable  to  grant  your  re- 
quest. It  is  quite  impossible.  This  is  not 
the  place  for  a  woman." 

Drawing  himself  up  proudly,  Satsuma  re- 
plied, in  a  ruffled  voice: 

"Very  well,  your  excellency.  You  refuse 
me." 

After  a  moment,  as  Keiki  averted  his  face 
and  did  not  reply,  he  continued: 

"  I  am  an  old  man,  travelling  over  the  last 
stage  of  the  journey  of  life.  I  had  a  natural 
longing  to  have  with  me  in  these  my  last  days 
my  beloved  child.  Hence,  feeling  assured 
that  you  would  not  deny  the  wish  of  a  dying 
father,  I  took  the  liberty  of  bringing  her  hither 
with  me." 

"You  brought  her  here!"  cried  Keiki,  in 
amazement. 

"  She  is  within,"  said  the  old  Prince,  quietly, 
as  he  indicated  the  interior  apartment. 

With  difficulty  Keiki  curbed  his  temper. 
Satsuma  had  not  long  to  live.  He  would  tell 
him  his  secret  :  he  would  bare  to  him  the  source 
of  his  buried  grief.  Thus  his  old  friend  would 
recognize  the  impossibility  of  his  being  brought 
into  contact  with  any  woman,  and  perceive 
how  unfitted  he  was  for  the  task  of  protecting 
her. 

So  it  happened  that  while  without  a  storm 
raged,  and  rainy  blasts  struck  sharply  into 
the  faces  of  the  sentinels  about  the  fortress, 


212 


TflE-WQgJKGpJr*  VJSTAPJA 

Keiki  related  his  story  to  his  aged  friend. 
Once  during  the  recital  the  shoji  moved,  then 
there  appeared  in  it  two  tiny  holes.  Once 
there  crept  into  the  room,  mingled  with  the 
tempest  and  the  sentinels'  sharp  cries  without, 
a  muffled  sob. 

"  You  have  passed  through  the  heart's  nar- 
rowest straits  to  the  mind's  broadest  realm," 
said  old  Satsuma;  "but  permit  me  to  still 
insist  that  while  your  highness's  story  has 
touched  me  deeply,  I  cannot  agree  with  you 
that  it  should  be  permitted  to  affect  the  fate 
of  my  daughter." 

"You  are  right,"  said  Keiki,  gently.  "It 
must  not  do  so." 

"You  will  allow  her  to  remain  here?" 

"Yes." 

Satsuma  bowed  deeply  and  gratefully. 

"The  camp,"  said  Keiki,  thoughtfully,  "is 
no  place  for  a  woman,  but  here  in  my  fortress 
she  will  be  safe." 

"  Your  highness,"  said  Satsuma,  with  much 
emotion  in  his  voice,  "  no  words  of  mine  can 
express  the  thanks  of  a  grateful  heart.  Good- 
night, my  brave  boy;  the  gods  comfort  and 
bless  you." 

In  the  adjoining  apartment  a  small  figure, 
half  crouching  by  the  dividing  doors,  sprang 
to  its  feet.  A  girl  ran  to  him  with  a  little  cry 
and  threw  her  arms  about  his  neck,  pressing  a 
little,  wet  face  gratefully  against  the  heavily 
limned  one  of  the  old  Prince. 

213 


TtfE  .VJOOJNG  op 


"  It  is  well,"  said  Satsuma,  patting  her  head. 

"  How  can  I  thank  thee?"  she  breathed. 

"By  endeavoring  to  feel  as  if  thou  wert 
indeed  my  own  daughter  instead  of  a  distant 
relative.  But  come,  thou  art  pale,  and  your 
garments  are  soiled  and  torn  with  travel." 

"The  journey  was  long,"  she  sighed,  glanc- 
ing at  the  frayed  ends  of  her  kimono,  "and 
do  you  know,  my  Lord  Satsuma,"  she  added, 
"I  could  scarcely  hire  a  runner  to  carry  me, 
because  of  my  unworldly  attire,  and  so  I  was 
compelled  to  make  much  of  the  journey  on 
foot." 

Meanwhile  Keiki  sat  alone,  his  hands  clasp- 
ed before  his  eyes.  All  the  bitterness  of  a 
lifetime  welled  within  his  bosom.  He  was 
trusted  above  men;  at  young  years  the  idol 
of  a  brave  nation ;  fate  was  bearing  him  upon 
a  wave  of  the  highest  destiny  that  could  not 
fail  to  beat  down  the  rotten  dikes  of  oppression. 
Yet  all  this  brought  no  peace,  no  happiness. 
He  realized  in  a  moment  the  futility  of  all  his 
efforts  to  put  the  soul  of  the  Lady  Wistaria 
out  of  his  heart.  Only  in  fierce  action  and 
strain  that  should  engross  all  his  faculties 
could  he  even  find  a  temporary  easement. 
After  that,  the  gods  pity  him!  After  that, 
he  could  not  live.  There  should  no  longer  be 
any  delay.  There  should  be  war,  and  that 
speedily,  perhaps  on  the  morrow. 

ft—,        .        ^       .       .^_ 

214 


TOE  - 


WJSTARIA     n 


OWEVER  fiercely  the  Prince 
Keiki  desired  and  sought  for 
4  instant  action,  there  were  ex- 
cellent reasons  in  the  delayed 
march  of  some  of  the  clans 
journeying  to  the  Mori  fortress 
for  the  temporary  postponement 
of  hostilities. 

Keiki  at  first  was  bitterly 
opposed  to  any  further  delay, 
but  the  reasonable  arguments 
of  the  older  daimios  and  the 
insistence  of  Satsuma,  the  prac- 
tical leader  of  the  movement, 
won  him  over.  It  was  their 
logic,  not  their  authority,  which 
restrained  him.  He  would  be 

.    ...     ft.  1      ..—  J. 

215 


TOE  .WOO)  NO  of 


compelled  to  wait  no  longer  than  a  few  days 
more,  certainly  not  more  than  a  week. 

One  morning  shortly  after  Keiki's  interview 
with  the  Lord  Satsuma  concerning  his  reputed 
daughter,  who  so  far  had  kept  apart  in  strict 
retirement  in  her  apartments  in  the  castle, 
Keiki  found  in  his  morning  reports  a  reference 
to  the  youth  Toro.  He  was  riding  post-haste 
in  the  direction  of  the  Choshui  province  with 
the  evident  intention  of  crossing  its  frontier. 
What  was  the  will  of  his  excellency  respect- 
ing him? 

So  this,  then,  was  the  way  in  which  the  rash 
youth  repaid  his  consideration,  mused  Keiki. 
Or  perhaps  he  came  because  of  the  Princess 
Hollyhock.  If  that  were  so,  he  would  send 
him  back  to  Catzu  again,  with  a  friendly 
warning  against  the  perfidious  sex. 

"He  approaches  the  frontier?"  he  asked 
the  soldier  who  brought  the  reports. 

"Yes,  your  highness." 

"  Well  then,  let  him  ride  unmolested  towards 
our  fortress.  So  long  as  he  advances  do  not 
touch  him,  but  at  the  first  sign  of  his  return 
seize  him  and  bring  him  to  me." 

The  soldier  bowed. 

"It  shall  be  as  your  highness  commands." 

So  it  was  that  Toro,  to  his  surprise,  was 
allowed  to  proceed  unharmed  through  the 
hostile  country  of  the  Mori.  His  journey  was 
without  incident  until  his  arrival  before  the 
fortress.  There  a  guard  barred  farther  prog- 


216 


TtfE.VSOjNG  of  WJSTAPJA     n 
^  ar — -=~3s=      n s 


ress  with  his  sword.  Toro  flung  himself  from 
his  panting  charger. 

"The  Prince  Mori?"  he  questioned. 

"Expects  you  and  will  give  you  audience 
shortly/'  returned  the  guard. 

The  young  heir  of  Catzu  was  conducted  to 
a  chamber  within  the  outer  circle  of  the  for- 
tress's defensive  works.  While  this  chamber 
was  not  within  the  inmost  area  of  the  edifice 
devoted  to  the  living  apartments,  yet  it  was 
sufficiently  near  for  the  occasional  passage 
of  some  peaceable  member  of  the  household 
through  the  grimmer  servants  of  war  to  oc- 
casion no  comment.  Moreover,  it  adjoined  the 
apartments  set  aside  for  the  Prince  of  Satsuma. 

Thus  when  the  daughter  of  Satsuma  chanced 
to  pass  through  the  chamber,  none  showed  sur- 
prise until  the  youthful  Toro  came.  His  as- 
tonishment, however,  was  such  that  instantly 
his  mouth  gaped  wide.  Before  sound  could 
add  its  audible  testimony  to  his  visible  aston- 
ishment, the  girl  had  clapped  her  hand  upon 
his  lips.  A  quick  glance  about  the  cham- 
ber told  her  that  they  were  unobserved.  She 
took  Toro  gently  by  the  shoulder. 

"Come,"  she  said. 

Half  an  hour  later  the  old  Lord  Satsuma 
stood  before  Keiki  in  alarm. 

"My  daughter  is  not  to  be  found,"  he  cried. 

"Not  to  be  found!" 

"  No,  my  lord.  I  committed  her  to  thy  care. 
Thou  didst  promise  to  guard  her." 


217 


TfiE  .WOOJN&  o/*  VJSTAPJA 


Keiki  was  troubled.  His  conscience  smote 
him,  for  he  had  painfully  put  off  making  the 
acquaintance  of  Satsuma's  daughter  and  had 
left  her  to  the  care  of  his  underlings. 

"My  lord,"  he  said,  "I  will  have  search 
made  at  once.  Your  honorable  daughter  must 
be  found. " 

Satsuma,  in  deep  agitation  and  concern,  left 
his  pupil's  apartment  to  make  further  inquiry 
of  the  guard.  He  had  advanced  but  a  little 
way  into  one  of  the  armed  outer  chambers 
of  the  fortress  when  a  note  was  slipped  into 
his  hand.  He  tore  it  open  and  read  it  through 
in  amazement.  After  a  second  reading  a 
broad  smile  overspread  his  face.  He  sought 
no  more  for  his  daughter.  Instead,  he  de- 
spatched a  hurried  note  to  Keiki,  briefly  in- 
forming him  that  his  insignificant  and  un- 
worthy daughter  had  become  ill  with  long- 
ing for  her  home,  and  had  departed  thence 
on  her  own  account.  As  she  was  very  effi- 
ciently attended,  he  had  no  fears  for  her 
safety. 

Meanwhile  Keiki  was  holding  audience  with 
Catzu  Toro. 

"This,  then,"  he  said,  severely,  "is  the 
gratitude  of  the  Catzu  for  me.  I  have  spared 
your  Jife,  twice  forfeit  to  me  by  every  law  of 
lord  and  samurai.  You  have  come  back,  it 
seems,  and  are  determined  to  make  fresh 
trouble  for  yourself." 

Keiki  paused.     Toro  answered,  quickly : 

3- I,  a£^ J  yj 

2T8 


THE.  .WOQJNG  o/*  -WJSTAPJ A    n 

-jf-  ir  rn  -•  -*  L     _— 


"I  have  come  back  to  you,  your  highness, 
to  offer  ray  allegiance  and  my  service." 

' '  Your  allegiance ! ' ' 

"My  poor  aid,  rather,  to  a  cause  of  whose 
nobility  I  learned  during  my  stay  in  your 
province.  Sovereignty  is  not  with  the  Sho- 
gun,  but  the  Emperor.  Place  the  rightful 
ruler  upon  the  throne,  oust  the  usurper  and 
tyrant,  and  the  rights  of  the  people  will  be 
listened  to." 

"Who  taught  you  these  counsels?" 

"My  own  conscience,  my  lord." 

Keiki  smiled. 

"Are  you  quite  certain,  Toro,  you  did  not 
read  your  new  principles  in  a  lady's  eyes?" 
he  asked,  dryly. 

Toro  blushed. 

"The  Princess  Hollyhock  appears  to  have 
been  a  teacher  of  some  weight,"  said  Keiki. 

Toro  cried,  warmly: 

"My  lord,  you  do  me  injustice.  I  love  the 
Princess  Hollyhock,  it  is  true— I  confess  it. 
But  what  my  honor  dictates,  what  my  con- 
science has  seen,  has  naught  to  do  with  the 
Princess."  Ingenuously:  "Tis,  my  lord,  I 
do  protest,  but  a  happy  coincidence  that  her 
views  are  mine.  Were  it  otherwise,  though 
tears  did  blind  my  eyes,  I  should  perceive  the 
right  way;  though  sorrow  choked  my  voice, 
I  still  would  cry,  'Daigi  Meibunor!' 

Toro  dropped  to  his  knees,  his  extrava- 
gance of  expression  seeming  not  to  have  af- 


2IQ 


fected  his  sincerity.  Keiki  put  out  a  quick 
hand  to  raise  him.  In  a  voice  of  deep  emotion 
he  cried.,  impulsively: 

"  Toro,  rny  brother,  I  wronged  you.  Now  I 
make  amend  and  receive  you  into  our  service. 
My  heart  was  bitter  because  of  my  own  sorrow, 
but  it  still  has  generosity  left  for  you,  friend 
of  my  hopes.  You  are  of  the  days  of  flowers. 
Now,  after  the  flowers  have  withered,  I  still 
receive  you." 

"The  flowers  have  not  withered/'  said 
Toro,  impulsively.  "Do  listen  to  me.  Per- 
chance— "  He  broke  off  in  some  confusion, 
as  by  some  sudden  remembrance. 

"Speak  no  more,  I  pray  thee,"  said  Keiki, 
commandingly. 

"Forgive  me.  I  would  speak  of  my  grati- 
tude to  you." 

"Toro,  I  will  place  you  in  command  of  a 
small  company.  At  first  I  could  not  do  more 
without  antagonizing  some  of  my  people. 
They  would  say  that  your  adherence  was  too 
recent." 

Toro  replied: 

"  I  do  not  seek  that  honor.  I  ask  a  humbler 
station. " 

"You  shall  be  upon  my  personal  staff  for   " 
the  present,"  was  Keiki 's  response.    "  Later,  as 
occasion  offers,  I  will  honorably  advance  you. " 

Keiki  now  rose.  Bowing  to  Toro,  he  sig- 
nified that  the  interview  was  at  an  end.  Still 
Toro  hesitated. 


220 


TWE  AJOOJNC  of? 


"You  wish  to  have  further  talk  with  me?" 
inquired  Keiki. 

"  I  crave  pardon,"  said  Toro,  somewhat  em- 
barrassed, "but  —  " 

He  went  towards  the  doors  into  the  adjoin- 
ing apartment  and  signalled  to  some  one  with- 
in. A  youth  entered  quietly.  He  was  slight, 
yet  of  a  grace  that  owed  its  being  equally  to 
his  exquisite  proportions  and  to  his  entire 
command  of  his  physical  being  and  comport- 
ment. A  youth's  fringe  hid  his  forehead. 
His  eyes,  cast  down,  were  veiled  from  Keiki. 
He  did  not  wear  the  armor  of  Toro  or  Keiki, 
but  carried  under  his  arm  a  small  encased 
sword,  which  he  handled  easily. 

"My  lord,"  said  Toro,  "I  have,  as  you 
see,  been  able  to  make  a  recruit.  He  was 
to  be  my  personal  follower,  but  since  I  am 
to  serve  on  your  staff  I  have  no  need  of 
him." 

"I  am  not  an  exquisite.  I  do  not  need  a 
little  man  to  follow  at  my  heels,"  said  Keiki, 
surveying  with  disapproval  the  dainty  lines 
of  the  little  warrior. 

The  unwelcome  visitor  flushed  to  his  ears. 
Toro  glanced  at  him  with  what  seemed  a 
suspicion  of  humor.  The  youth,  seemingly 
infuriated,  whipped  out  his  sword. 

A  sudden  suspicion  of  treachery  came  to 
Keiki  as  he  brought  his  hand  to  his  own 
heavy  blade  and  put  it  at  guard.  But  the 
thought  of  the  youth  attacking  him  seemed 


221 


TflE  .WOO) MG  o/*  \flSTAPJA 


to  amuse  him  also,  so  that  he  took  no  trouble 
to  defend  himself. 

Perhaps,  too,  it  was  because  of  his  astonish- 
ment, and  the  heaviness  of  his  blade,  and  not 
because  of  lack  of  skill,  that  the  tiny  blade  of 
the  youth  slipped  down  Keiki's  guard,  and, 
leaving  the  line  of  defence,  sought,  cut,  and 
carried  away  a  rosette  from  the  cuirass  of  the 
Prince.  Plucking  it  from  his  blade,  the  youth 
thrust  the  rosette  into  his  breast,  while  on  his 
knees  he  offered  his  sword  to  Keiki  with  its 
point  directed  towards  his  own  breast. 

Keiki  made  a  motion  of  surprise.  The  youth 
had  answered,  and  worthily,  his  taunt.  But  his 
life  hung  upon  the  generosity  of  the  Prince. 
Toro  saw  that  here  was  a  test  of  the  soul  of 
Keiki. 

The  Shining  Prince  laughed  loud  and 
long. 

"Good!  I  receive  thee  at  once  into  my 
service.  Thy  name?" 

"Jiro,  my  lord,"  half  whispered  the  youth 
from  his  kneeling  position. 

"Well,  Jiro,  just  now  you  held  my  life  in 
your  hands.  For  the  sake  of  a  worthy  cause 
I  thank  you  for  sparing  me.  A  thrust  in  the 
loosened  corsage  below  that  rosette  would  have 
done  for  me." 

Jiro  rose  to  his  feet,  but  remained  with  his 
head  respectfully  bowed  before  the  Prince. 

Toro  clapped  him  on  his  slight  shoulder. 

"In  the  days  soon  to  come,  when  your  life 

^==3C====3>  4fe 1 —       & 

222 


is  sought  by  the  foes  of  the  cause,  my  lord 
Jiro  and  I  will  protect  you." 

When  Toro,  flushed  with  his  strange  suc- 
cess, sought  the  Lady  Hollyhock,  he  found 
her  wholly  unresponsive. 

"In  faith,  my  lord/'  she  said,  mockingly, 
"it  was  not  right  for  you,  a  Catzu  lord,  to  ride 
through  the  outposts  of  your  hereditary  enemy, 
simply  for  a  glimpse  of  an  unworthy  and  in- 
significant maiden." 

"Nay—"  remonstrated  Toro. 

"  To  abandon  your  father's  house  and  hopes 
for  a  girl—  that  is  not  what  the  daughters  of 
Nipon  are  taught." 

"My  dearest  lady—" 

"  To  follow  one's  conscience  were  an  honor, 
but  to  forget  all  blindly,  to  betray  your  cause, 
to  betray  your  house  to  win  a  wife.  Think 
you  she  would  have  you  after  such  perfidy? 
She  would  not  be  worth  possessing  did  she 
favor  you  then." 

One  little,  unfeeling  hand  Toro  carried  to  his 
heart. 

"Dear  lady,"  he  said,  "I  did  not  do  it  for 
thee." 

The  Lady  Hollyhock  frowned,  and  withdrew 
her  hand  immediately. 

"You  did  not?"  she  exclaimed. 

"Nay,  dear  lady.  I  did  it  because  of  my 
conscience,  because  I  believe  in  the  Emperor, 
and  not  the  Shogun." 

The  Princess  turned  her  back  upon  him. 


223 


THE.' 

"-t  -*^"-  ~^  '  *•• — — •"-  -•        •  "  JL"    •  I-"- 

"You  are  angry,  sweet  lady?"  interrogated 
the  agitated  Toro. 

No  reply. 

"Lady,  you  were  angry  with  me  when  you 
thought  I  did  it  for  you,  and  now  when  you 
know  I  did  not  you  are  still  angry." 

"A  princess  must  have  her  brave  knight," 
said  the  Lady  Hollyhock,  haughtily. 

"You  know  why  I  did  it,"  said  Toro,  ready 
to  forswear  everything  at  her  demand. 

Again  he  sought  her  hand,  but  still  she 
denied  him. 

"  Oh,  not  so  fast,  my  lord.  Let  me  whisper 
to  you  a  report  I  have  heard. " 

"A  report — concerning  me?"  said  Toro,  in 
bewilderment. 

"  Concerning  a  certain  Catzu  gentleman  who 
recently  awaited  an  audience  with  the  Prince 
Mori.  He  was  placed  in  a  certain  interior 
chamber,  which  happened  to  adjoin  the  apart- 
ments of  the  daughter  of  a  certain  prince  of 
prominence.  This  Catzu  gentleman,  it  is 
said,  disappeared  into  this  lady's  private 
apartments.  Since  which  time  the  lady 
has  been  banished  to  Satsuma  by  her  own 
father." 

"Lady,"  said  Toro,  in  a  great  state  of 
mingled  fear  and  bewilderment,  "I  pray  thee 
repeat  not  such  a  story,  even  to  the  flowers." 

With  a  scornful  and  angry  little  laugh, 
the  Lady  Hollyhock,  who  had  inwardly  hoped 
for  a  denial  by  her  lover,  stepped  away. 

?          i.    .     »          i a 

224 


TOE  AGOING  of  VW5TAPJ A     n 

_       ^ r»  iTTl  __   i  _  n        -»r          


"I  am  not  likely/'  she  said,  "to  tell  of  my 
own  supplanting." 

She  drew  the  doors  sharply  between  them. 

Toro,  alone,  mused  upon  the  imputation  of 
her  words. 

"She  is  mine  if  I  tell  her  a  secret/'  he  said, 
"  but  that  secret  is  not  my  own ;  I  cannot  tell 
it!"  He  added,  with  a  naive  wisdom:  "Nor 
can  I  trust  her.  A  woman  is  like  unto  a  vol- 
cano, which,  even  when  inactive,  is  palpitating 
to  spit  forth  its  fire,  and  which,  when  it  does 
vent  its  fury,  bursts  the  bounds  of  its  late  en- 
forced suppression." 


225 


THE. 


of  \«STAR)A 


JBb. 


A 


* 


SMALL  portion  of  the  night 
had  been  spent  by  the  Prince  in 
that  sleep,  troubled  by  nervous 
starts  and  awakenings,  which 
was  now  his  only  repose,  when 
there  was  a  sound  of  disorder 
in  the  great  enclosure  without 
the  fortress.  The  challenging 
of  sentinels,  the  rattle  of  arms, 
the  gallop  of  a  considerable 
body  of  horse,  came  to  him 
plainly  within  the  palace  in- 
terior. 

Hastily  Keiki  passed  through 
the  castle  apartments  to  a  para- 
pet high  above  the  area  of  the 
enclosure.  Leaning  against  a 

!»  ..  $&  Jk  3F 

226 


Op  WJSTAf 


SJ 


& 


4 


cannon,  he  sought  among  the  shadows  for  the 
cause  of  the  disturbance.  If  he  had  any  fears 
as  to  the  state  of  his  defences,  none  appeared 
in  his  face,  now  grown  impassive  almost  to 
the  point  of  apathy. 

Gradually,  as  his  eyes  became  accustomed 
to  the  semi-darkness  of  the  enclosure,  he  saw 
that  his  followers  were  receiving  an  accession 
of  fresh  troops,  many  of  whom  were  mounted. 
Quarters  for  the  rest  of  the  night  were  being 
made  ready  for  the  new-comers.  Plainly,  it  was 
the  arrival  of  some  of  the  long-exp'ected  clans. 

With  the  knowledge  that  a  report  would  be 
made  presently,  for  such  was  his  standing 
order  by  day  or  by  night,  Keiki  returned  to  his 
apartments,  seeking,  after  a  few  further  prep- 
arations, the  chamber  in  which  he  was  ac- 
customed to  receive  guests. 

Soon  a  number  of  his  people,  among  them 
Toro  and  the  boy  Jiro,  ushered  in  his  cousin, 
the  cadet  Lord  of  Nagato.  Scarcely  had  he 
announced  the  number  and  strength  of  the 
clans  he  had  gathered  about  him,  when  he 
burst  out: 

"Strange  news,  your  highness!" 

"Speak,"  said  Keiki,  briefly. 

"  With  these  eyes  have  I  seen  it.  Ill  augurs 
it  for  our  kind  and  cause." 

"Speak,"  said  Keiki,  impatiently. 

"  My  lord,  I  have  just  come  from  Yedo, 
whither  I  went  alone  in  disguise,  joining  my 
men  only  yester  morn." 


227 


-  .  n 

«— U— fr  %  a  Jk-      1       \ 


"My  lord,"  said  the  impatient  Keiki,  "pray 
remember  that  the  hour  is  late.  All  things 
wait  upon  your  utterance.  Tell  me  in  a  breath 
what  is  your  news.  What  did  you  see  in 
Yedo?" 

"  Foreign  ships  -  of  -  war  sailing  up  the 
harbor." 

"What  was  their  purpose?" 

"They  demand  the  opening  of  our  ports, 
closed  for  two  hundred  years,  to  the  trade  of 
the  world." 

Keiki  reflected. 

"It  is  evil — this  complication  with  foreign 
peoples  at  this  time,"  he  said.  "But  proceed, 
my  lord." 

The  other  continued: 

"  Four  foreign  ships-of-war  are  now  in  Yedo 
Bay.  They  are  American.  They  are  in  much 
doubt  as  to  who  is  the  ruler  of  the  country. 
The  Shogun  lyesada  has  assured  them  that 
he  reigns  supreme.  Treaties  are  now  being 
negotiated.  The  Shogun  has  taken  it  upon 
himself  to  change  the  policy  of  our  country 
without  reference  to  the  Son  of  Heaven"  (the 
Mikado). 

"This  is  treason,"  cried  Keiki.  "We  must 
march  against  the  Shogun  at  once." 

"Nay,  my  lord,  permit  an  insignificant 
vassal  to  suggest  that  our  country  must  pre- 
sent at  this  critical  juncture  an  undivided  front 
against  the  foreigner.  It  may  be  that  the 
Shogun  in  his  weakness  before  the  foreigner  L 


228 


TflE  .VOOjfSG  o/?  VJSTARJA 


but  temporizes  in  his  presence.  The  foreigner 
must  be  expelled,  and,  after  that,  the  Shogun 
dealt  with." 

"  You  are  right,  my  lord.  I  congratulate 
you  upon  your  wisdom  and  foresight,  and 
beg  that  you  will  now  retire  to  rest." 

"  May  I  inquire  whether  you  purpose  taking 
any  action,  your  highness?"  inquired  Nagato. 

"I  am  decided,"  said  Keiki.  " In  the  morn- 
ing I  shall  set  out  for  Yedo,  whatever  the  peril. 
I  must  make  observations." 

Long  after  the  others  had  retired,  Keiki  tried 
to  review  clearly  the  train  of  events  that  had 
led  up  to  this  occurrence.  He  must  decide 
upon  his  course.  In  spite  of  the  European 
knowledge  transferred  to  him  by  the  Lord  of 
Satsuma,  the  very  term  "foreigner"  sent  a 
vague  thrill  of  unknown  terror  to  his  soul. 
He  had  been  told  of  their  arms  and  other 
methods  of  warfare;  many  of  their  secrets 
were  his.  He  had,  if  not  their  armaments,  at 
least  fair  imitations — gunpowder,  cannon,  and 
rifles.  Yet  in  spite  of  all  this,  an  emotion 
that  was  not  fear,  not  cowardice,  made  its  way 
subtly  to  his  heart.  These  foreigners  stood 
for  a  strange  civilization  which,  despite  his 
vaguely  derived  knowledge,  might  yet  include  \ 
greater  destructive  agencies. 

Then  who  could  clearly  see  beyond  their 
diplomacy?  They  might  come  simply,  as  they 
said,  to  demand  'open  ports.  But  their  own 
history  showed  that  such  things  had  been  the  L 


229 


forerunners  of  wars  of  aggression,  wars  for 
the  acquisition  of  territory.  No  man  might 
know  what  the  extent  of  the  latter  demanded. 
They  were  a  distinct  peril  to  the  whole  of  Dai 
Nippon.  Yet  what  was  to  be  done  with  regard 
to  the  shogunate?  lyesada  was  dealing  with 
these  foreigners,  making  treaties,  without  the 
sanction  of  his  imperial  master,  the  Mikado. 
If,  on  the  other  hand,  Keiki  should  move  with 
all  his  forces  against  the  Shogun,  would  not 
the  foreigners,  taking  advantage  of  civil  war, 
better  their  mysterious  position  and  gain 
whatever  object  they  might  have  in  view? 

No,  it  seemed  clear  to  Keiki  that,  unless 
something  unforeseen  intervened,  every  energy 
must  be  made  by  a  united  country  to  keep  out 
the  foreign  powers.  When  this  was  definite- 
ly accomplished  the  Mikado's  reign  would  be 
established  with  little  delay  before  the  foreign- 
ers could  recover. 

This  was  the  final  and  definite  conclusion 
reached  by  Keiki.  He  saw  a  certain  advan- 
tage in  the  arrival  of  the  foreign  ships-of-war, 
provided  they  came  in  good  faith.  They  would 
serve  to  distract  attention  from  the  aroused  and 
armed  state  in  which  the  southern  provinces 
now  were,  to  which  they  had  been  brought 
under  his  direction. 

"I  will  go  to  Yedo  at  sunrise,"  he  told  him- 
self. 

His  temples  were  throbbing  painfully,  the 
result  of  long  nights  without  sleep,  of  long 

=3====3^==^^ 
230 


TflE  .WdOJWG  <*r  \WSTAR)A     « 

-*•    •    •  -as:  -3T-  -^ 1 I;-? 

days  of  thought  and  care.  He  sighed  and 
drew  his  hand  across  his  brow. 

"My  lord  is  ill?" 

He  started  at  the  voice.  It  had  a  vaguely 
familiar  sound.  The  young  boy,  Jiro,  had 
started  towards  him  a  pace,  and  then  had  re- 
treated backward,  as  though  overcome  by  his 
temerity. 

"My  lord  is  ill?" 

"An  insignificant  pain  in  the  brow,"  said 
the  Prince. 

The  boy  slipped  behind  the  Prince  softly 
and  fell  upon  one  knee. 

"  Dear  lord,  will  you  not  permit  me  to  relieve 
the  pain  of  your  august  brow?" 

The  Prince  stirred  uneasily.  Again  the 
strange  quality  of  the  boy's  voice  touched  some 
hidden  spring  of  memory.  Taking  his  silence 
as  consent,  the  boy  laid  a  soft,  cool  hand  on 
either  side  of  Keiki's  temples,  pressing  them 
with  his  finger-tips.  The  action,  the  touch, 
recalled  in  an  instant  a  memory  that  was  bet- 
ter sleeping.  It  was  thus  the  Lady  Wistaria 
had  been  wont  to  woo  away  the  pain  that  beset 
his  brow  when  he  had  lain  ill  in  her  father's 
house. 

Suddenly  the  Prince  clasped  his  hands  over 
those  on  his  brow.  Gradually  he  was  drawing 
Jiro  to  a  position  facing  him,  when,  eluding 
the  Prince's  grasp,  Jiro  sank  to  the  floor  and 
laid  his  head  at  Keiki's  feet. 

"Oh,  my  lord,  I  beseech  you  not  to  be  an- 


231 


THE  JWOOJNG  cjr? 


* 


gry  with  me  for  my  forwardness.  It  was  my 
solicitude  for  your  pain — " 

"Nay,  rise,"  said  the  Prince,  gently.  "Pray 
do  not  confound  me  with  apologies." 

With  his  head  still  drooping,  the  boy  re- 
treated towards  the  door. 

The  Prince  smiled  at  the  fear  apparent  in 
Jiro's  demeanor. 

"You  have  done  me  no  ill,"  he  said,  kindly; 
"  you  have  actually  soothed  away  the  pain.  I 
thank  you." 


I 


;' 


PON  his  arrival  in  Yedo,  Keiki 
made  use  of  every  precaution 
his  ingenuity  could  devise,  that 
the  Imperialists  might  not  dis- 
cover his  presence  in  the  capital 
of  the  Shogun's  government. 
His  approach  to  the  city  had 
been  attended  only  by  Toro  and 
Jiro,  but  during  the  last  stage 
of  the  journey  the  three  had 
separated,  entering  the  city  from 
opposite  directions  to  meet  in  an 
isolated  quarter  near  the  water- 
front. Here  the  Imperialist  par- 
ty found  it  advantageous  to 
maintain  a  small  establishment 
whose  squalid  exterior  gave  no 

t         __-t-          I          *r 
233 


of  vn 


promise  of  the  comparative  comfort  to  be  en- 
joyed beyond  the  threshold  by  those  in  posses- 
sion of  the  pass-word. 

From  this  house  the  movements  and  plans, 
the  thoughts  even,  of  the  shogunate  govern- 
ment in  its  own  Yedo  capital  were  observed 
and  reported  to  those  seeking  the  return  of 
rightful  sovereignty  to  the  Mikado  in  his 
Kioto  capital.  Here  at  all  hours  of  the  night 
came  men  in  mean  dress,  whose  bearing, 
though  consciously  abased  to  that  of  mer- 
chants or  laborers,  was  unmistakably  that 
of  the  noble;  here  came  strange,  imperious 
young  men  who  might  pose  as  water-carriers, 
but  whose  hands  sought  an  imaginary  sword- 
belt  at  the  least  obstacle,  and  slight  youths 
whose  loose  garments  too  poorly  hid  the 
curves  of  feminine  figures.  Of  late  the  ac- 
tivity and  the  going  to  and  fro  of  these  per- 
sons had  increased,  but  apparently  without 
exciting  the  attention  of  the  municipal  au- 
thorities. 

Although  the  young  Prince  of  Mori  had  em- 
ployed all  artifice  in  gaining  the  Yedo  head- 
quarters of  his  party,  yet  he  was  surprised  to 
note  that  his  person  attracted  scarcely  any 
attention.  His  position  of  peril,  and  his  natu- 
rally observant  mind,  on  guard  to  catch  the 
slightest  suspicious  augury,  would  have  led 
him  to  exaggerate  any  apparently  hostile 
glance.  Everywhere,  the  sole  topic  was  of 
the  foreigners,  their  strange  behavior,  their 

-  £=         1  —sk.  I  3  —  — 

**  234 


„    TflE.V/oojNGCj*  WISTARIA     n 
— fr-^ ^  a -*          i j 


stated  purposes,  their  mysterious  ways,  and 
their  utter  indifference  to  all  Japanese  usage. 

When  Keiki  had  been  greeted  by  his  fellow- 
Imperialists,  and  he  had  described  to  them 
the  state  of  his  southern  resources,  they  in 
turn  gave  him  such  information  as  they  had 
concerning  the  foreigners,  whose  arrival  had 
obscured  the  future  of  their  operations  against 
the  shogunate.  The  Prince  of  Echizen,  tem- 
porarily in  charge  of  the  headquarters,  re- 
ported in  detail  to  his  military  superior  the 
events  which  he  had  not  yet  described  in  his 
regular  despatches  to  the  head  of  the  Mori 
family. 

"I  was  unable,  my  lord,  to  send  you  further 
news,"  he  said,  "beyond  the  mere  verbal  re- 
port communicated  by  the  Lord  of  Nagato 
before  your  departure." 

The  foreigners,  he  went  on  to  say/  had  been 
on  the  coast  some  days  now.  They  had  first 
appeared  in  the  bay  of  Yedo. 

"Why  were  they  not  sent  to  Nagasaki?" 
demanded  Keiki.  "They  should  have  been 
told  that  all  foreign  affairs  are  administered 
from  that  port." 

"Ah,"  returned  Echizen,  "they  are  dealing 
with  the  bakufu,  not  the  Emperor." 

"Proceed,  I  beg  you." 

"  When  first  they  came  upon  the  coast  they 
announced  to  the  Governor  of  Niaga  that 
they  bore  letters  and  presents  from  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States  of  America ;  that  they 

3 — -  x         -m.      .  i         a 


WE  .WOOING 


must  deliver  them  to  the  Emperor  in  person, 
or  to  a  high  official  appointed  for  that  purpose. 
They  were  told  by  the  shogunate,  which  took 
upon  itself  the  right  of  dealing  with  matters 
intended  for  our  Emperor,  to  go  to  Nagasaki. 
They  replied  by  moving  nearer  up  the  bay 
to  Yedo,  which  they  took  to  be  the  Emperor's 
capital. 

"They  have  sent  out  parties  in  boats  to 
take  soundings  in  the  bay,  despite  the  Gov- 
ernor's protests,  and  each  hour  brings  them 
nearer  to  Yedo.  This  frightened  the  sho- 
gunate, which  finally  set  a  day  for  landing. 
To-morrow,  near  the  fishing  village  of  Yoko- 
hama, they  are  to  land  and  present  their  let- 
ters to  commissioners  appointed  by  the  Shogun 
to  receive  them.  They  will  await  a  reply." 

"What  is  their  nature  and  strength?"  de- 
manded Keiki. 

"They  are  four  ships  -of  -war.  They  are 
Americans,  and  in  command  of  a  high  Lord 
Perry." 

"But  why  do  they  deal  with  the  Shogun?" 

The  Prince  of  Echizen  replied: 

"  They  are  ignorant  of  our  true  internal  con- 
dition. They  do  not  know  that  we  have  one 
true  Emperor,  a  shadow  of  power,  and  a  war 
lord,  a  Shogun,  who  rules  for  himself.  These 
Americans  are  of  the  opinion  that  they  are 
treating  with  the  Mikado,  with  the  Emperor 
of  Japan.  Their  letters  and  credentials  are 
inscribed  to  the  Emperor  of  Japan." 


236 


WJSTAPJA 


QEIK 


J^ 


Keiki  reflected  upon  what  Echizen  had  told 
him.  The  national  situation  was  rapidly  be- 
coming strained.  If  the  foreigners  should  be 
driven  from  the  country,  well  and  good;  but 
it  was  now  no  time  to  attack  the  shogunate, 
which  must  be  as  embarrassed  as  its  oppo- 
nent over  the  advent  of  the  Americans.  In 
all  events,  the  only  present  policy  was  delay. 
The  shogunate  might  be  destroyed  by  the 
foreigners,  yet — 

A  sudden  determination  came  to  Keiki.  He 
must  know  the  attitude  of  the  Shogun,  even 
at  risk  to  himself.  He  turned  to  the  future 
premier. 

"Your  highness/'  he  asked,  "can  you  pro- 
cure for  me  a  uniform  of  the  household  of 
lyesada?" 

"What!  the  Shogun?" 

"Yes." 

"Certainly.  In  fact,  one  of  our  clan,  who 
is  secretly  in  sympathy  with  us,  is  a  member 
of  the  Shogun's  household  and  stands  close 
to  his  august  person.  You  may  pass  for  the 
Lord  Sakura." 

Keiki,  wrapped  in  a  long  cloak,  stood  near 
the  entrance  of  the  house  awaiting  some  favor- 
able moment,  when  the  street  should  be  clear 
of  passers-by,  to  slip  out  into  the  night.  As 
he  was  about  to  make  a  sudden  spring  to 
gain  the  street  a  hand  clutched  the  hem  of 
his  cloak.  The  boy  Jiro  was  restraining 
him. 

j  * -"A,  I J 

237 


TfiE  .yooiING  QJ*  VflSTAPJA     n 

"  "~  ~  "" 


"Go  not  out  alone,  my  lord,"  he  entreated. 

Keiki  frowned  impatiently. 

"  One  would  think  I  were  about  to  encounter 
danger.  I  go  but  to  observe.  There  is  no 
danger,"  he  said,  sharply. 

The  trembling  hand  of  the  boy  Jiro  tore  wide 
the  cloak. 

"  This  uniform,  my  lord.     It  is  of  the  Sho— " 

Keiki,  feeling  a  pang  of  sorrow  at  hurting 
the  boy,  but  determined  upon  his  mission,  did 
not  defer  action  long.  At  any  moment,  the 
street  comparatively  quiet,  might  be  filled  with 
wayfarers.  He  pushed  Jiro  gently  but  in- 
sistently from  him  and  went  out  into  the  city. 

At  first  he  kept  to  the  side  streets,  travers- 
ing much  useless  distance,  but  directing  his 
general  course  towards  the  palace  of  the  Sho- 
gun.  Once  or  twice  he  thought  himself  fol- 
lowed, but,  retracing  his  steps,  came  upon 
no  pursuer.  Finally  he  came  to  the  ave- 
nues, where  further  concealment  were  fruit- 
less and  would  only  invite  suspicion.  In 
these  thoroughfares,  therefore,  he  flung  back 
his  cloak,  permitting  liberal  glimpses  of  his 
bakufu  uniform. 

He  found  still  the  utmost  indifference  per- 
vading the  city  concerning  the  movements  of  ^ 
mere  individuals,  be  they  of  the  court  of  the 
Shogun  or  the  cpurt  of  thieves.  In  the  story- 
tellers' halls  and  the  theatres,  on  the  street 
corner  and  in  all  public  places,  groups  specu- 
lated upon  the  presence  of  the  foreigners  in 

iz-aL         i          a-         r         ;;£= 

238 


THE  A/OOJNG  ojf  VJSTAPJ  A 

^  a  ^T :3 


Japan.  There  was  abroad  a  subtle,  indefin- 
able fear  that  in  some  way  the  coming  of  the 
foreigners  was  to  change  the  destiny  of  the 
empire.  The  more  ignorant  could  not  see 
clearly  in  what  way  this  was  to  come  about, 
but  there  was  present  in  their  consciousness 
fear  of  an  impending  evil. 

Nobles  of  both  parties  were  unsettled.  The 
foreign  visitation  might  mean  annihilation  to 
either  party.  Ruin  it  did  mean  to  one,  but 
which?  The  shogunate  seemed  in  the  ascend- 
ant, since  it  had  been  recognized,  blindly, 
but  still  recognized,  by  the  foreigners.  Thus 
among  all  classes  there  was  manifest  a  great 
unrest,  none  the  less  threatening  and  fearful 
because  its  import  was  hidden.  Plainly  the 
shadow  of  events  to  come  had  darkened  the 
nation's  mind. 

The  tradesman  in  his  shop,  showing  his 
wares  to  a  purchaser,  stated  their  price  un- 
certainly. 

"  Just  now,  honorable  sir,  the  price  is  three 
yen,  but  the  gods  alone  know  what  it  will  be 
to-morrow,  whether  more,  less,  priceless  be- 
yond measure,  or  smaller  than  nothing  at  all. 
The  barbarians — " 

"  Ah  yes,  these  barbarians."  His  purchaser 
would  nod  understandingly. 

At  a  street  corner  a  woman  approached  a 
strolling  samurai  in  the  Shogun's  uniform. 

"Honorable  samurai,"  she  said,  "what  of 
the  foreigners  who  have  come?" 


239 


TflE -WOOING  jtf*  VJJ3TAPJA 


The  samurai  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"  I'll  tell  you  all  I  know  of  them,"  he  mur- 
mured, without  enthusiasm. 

A  group  formed  about  him. 

"  What  do  you  know  of  them?"  pressed  one. 

"Tell  us  all/'  said  another. 

The  samurai  shifted  one  of  the  swords. 

"Of  a  certainty  I'll  tell  you  all." 

"Yes?" 

"Of  a  truth  they  have  come/'  he  answered, 
as  with  a  movement  of  disclaimer  he  passed 
up  the  street. 

In  the  story-tellers'  halls  the  reciter  was 
besieged  with  requests  for  stories  and  informa- 
tion concerning  the  Americans.  In  some  cases 
he  frankly  avowed  his  ignorance,  and  in  others 
regaled  his  hearers  with  the  weirdest  tales  of 
a  resourceful  imagination. 

Witnessing  incidents  of  this  kind  upon  every 
side,  Keiki  continued  on  his  way  to  the  palace. 
Of  one  thing  he  was  now  fully  assured.  What- 
ever policy  for  the  future  might  be  decided  on 
by  him  and  his  associates  could  not  be  put  into 
immediate  effect.  The  popular  impulse,  the 
popular  mind  was  dazed,  and  was  not  ready 
for  action.  Meanwhile  he  would  learn  all  he 
could  of  the  intentions  of  both  foreigners  and 
Shogun. 

Keiki  was  now  quite  near  the  palace  of  the 
Shogun.  His  cloak  he  threw  carelessly  about 
him  in  such  wise  that  while  his  uniform  was 
exposed  his  features  were  muffled.  The  gate  jr 


240 


THE  A/OOJNG  Qf  WJSTAR)  A 

-  %-  ^    -  :11P^  -  1 


before  which  stood  the  samurai  on  guard  at 
the  outer  post  was  open.  Without  a  word  Kei- 
ki  strode  haughtily  past  the  guards.  They 
gave  no  challenge. 

Within  the  grounds  enclosed  by  the  stone 
walls  there  was  no  reflection  of  the  disquiet 
manifest  throughout  the  city.  From  the  broad, 
elevated  balconies  of  the  palace,  shining  in  the 
soft  light  diffused  through  the  fusuma,  there 
floated  down  to  the  strained  ears  of  Keiki  the 
sound  of  women's  laughter  and  the  harsher 
tone  of  men's  voices.  Music  mingled  with 
other  sounds  that  indicated  the  quiet  enjoy- 
ment of  the  night.  The  very  guards  at  the 
doors  were  careless  in  the  performance  of  their 
duties,  looking  with  the  eye  of  artistic  appre- 
ciation upon  the  night's  gentle  festivities. 

Still  undisturbed,  Keiki  passed  through  the 
palace  entrances.  An  officer  of  the  guard 
stared  curiously  for  a  moment  after  him  once, 
then  turned  in  forgetfulness  to  answer  a 
woman's  jest.  Keiki  ascended  a  stairway. 
In  an  upper  ante  -room  he  met  an  under- 
menial. 

"The  chamber  of  the  Shogun,"  he  said, 
coldly. 

"Honorable  lord,"  began  the  menial. 

Prince  Mori  thrust  a  parchment  before  his 
eyes. 

"The  chamber  of  the  Shogun  at  once,"  he 
said,  sternly;  "these  despatches  admit  of  no 
delay." 


241 


TflE-VQQJiNG  of  VJ3TARJA      r 

"  His  august  excellency  is  very  ill  and  has 
retired,"  said  the  servant. 

Keiki  turned  upon  him  shortly. 

"I  know.     Go!" 

The  attendant  preceded  him. 

"  One  minute/'  said  Keiki ;  "  understand,  my 
mission  is  secret.  But  pronounce  the  name 
Sakura  to  his  augustness." 

The  man  bent  low.  Then  he  entered  a 
chamber.  He  reappeared  shortly,  and  having 
signed  to  Keiki  to  enter,  disappeared  down  a 
stairway.  Keiki  waited  until  his  footsteps  had 
passed  away.  Then  he  crossed  the  threshold, 
hesitating  in  the  fashion  of  one  who  enters  a 
strange  apartment  for  the  first  time,  conscious 
that  its  occupant  has  an  advantage  of  prior 
acquaintance. 


242 


T»£ - 


wmAPJA 

3P-.        —XI 


OR  a  moment  Keiki  was  blinded 
by  the  profusion  of  light  that 

4  blazed  near  the  door  of  entrance, 
leaving  the  rest  of  the  cham- 
ber in  shadow.  It  was  a  large 
room,  its  walls  tapestried  in  silk, 
wrought  with  embossed  figures 
telling  the  history  of  the  early 
Tokugawa  wars.  At  irregular 
intervals  about  the  room  were  set 

4  screens  bearing  the  same  gold- 
embroidered,  symbolic  figures. 
There  were  a  few  low  tables, 
against  which  were  thrown  the 
implements  and  paraphernalia 
of  war — swords,  helmets,  cui- 
rass, armor,  all  richly  wrought. 

243 


VJJSTAPJA 


"Who  are  you?" 

Keiki  became  conscious  of  a  presence  in 
the  room.  Stretched  upon  a  low  divan  in  a 
shadowed  recess  lay  an  indistinct  figure,  at 
whose  elbow  a  low  table,  piled  high  with  parch- 
ment and  writing  materials,  stood. 

"Who  are  you?"  repeated  the  voice. 

Keiki  approached  nearer,  bowing  courteous- 
ly, though  somewhat  stiffly. 

"Sakura,"  he  said,  to  gain  time,  while  he 
held  out  a  roll  of  paper  in  his  hand.  He  drew 
nearer  to  the  figure  on  the  divan.  The  cold 
eyes  of  the  other  scanned  him  without  fear. 

"You  are  not  Sakura.  You  are — 1  know 
you.  Be  good  enough  to  bring  me  that 
cabinet." 

Keiki  crossed  the  apartment  to  the  spot  in- 
dicated by  the  other's  gesture.  He  brought 
a  small,  inlaid,  lacquer  box  to  the  side  of  the 
divan. 

The  one  upon  the  divan,  without  a  trace  of 
nervousness,  opened  the  box  and  held  up  to 
the  Prince  of  Mori  a  picture  of  himself. 

"See,"  he  said,  "I  have  your  portrait,  with 
an  interesting  description  attached  of  certain 
cannon  foundries  and  works  I  believe  you  main- 
tain in  the  south.  Ah,  there  is  something 
else  written  beneath  the  picture."  He  held  it 
to  the  light.  "Mori,  head  of  the  rebel  cause, 
to  be  followed  and  beheaded.  WTiat  is  it  you 
want  with  me?"  he  finished,  replacing  the 
portrait  in  the  box. 

4        -Ji-          &         i  .  —^c=— 

244 


Ttf E  -VJOOjNG  OF  WJSTAR)  A     n 

3£=&  -a  -y t — 

Mori  laid  his  hand  upon  his  sword. 

"What  do  you  want  with  lyesada?  I  am 
he,  as  you  are  well  aware.  It  is  less  than  a 
year,  I  believe,  since  your  lordship  was  at  my 
court." 

Mori  winced.  The  memory  of  that  last  visit 
recalled  his  first  meeting  with  Wistaria.  He 
became  very  pale. 

"What  do  you  want  with  me?"  inquired  the 
other,  quietly  watching  him. 

"To  know  your  intentions  towards  the  for- 
eigners." 

"Are  you  aware,"  returned  the  Shogun, 
"  that  a  single  sign  from  me  would  bring  down 
a  thousand  guards  upon  your  head?" 

Mori  smiled  coldly,  grimly. 

"  Ah,  but  your  highness  will  not  make  that 
sign,"  he  said. 

"Why  will  I  not?" 

"Because  your  highness  loves  life." 

"You  would  murder  me?" 

"  I  would  cut  off  your  head  and  show  it  to  the 
people  as  the  head  of  a  traitor  and  an  enemy 
to  the  Son  of  Heaven." 

The  Shogun  appeared  rather  amused  than 
alarmed.  He  regarded  Mori  with  a  peculiar 
and  penetrating  glance.  Then  he  sighed. 
&  "I  was  young  and  venturesome  once,"  he 
said.  "  I,  too,  at  one  time,  secretly  believed  as 
you  do.  Now — "  He  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"What  are  your  intentions  regarding  these 
foreigners?" 


245 


TfiE  BOOING  ojr?  \ttSTAR)A     n 

-yr,       .  — .   .         "^c*  "          '  "^IT      ' —      " "          Tjjfc" "  '  "  "TT — ' » 

"Are  you  here  to  treat  with  me,  young 
Mori?" 

"If  you  wish,  yes.  I  represent  a  consider- 
able party  in  the  empire.  I  ask  with  right, 
for  one  day  I  shall  unthrone  your  excellency." 

lyesada  turned  himself  quickly  upon  his 
elbow,  while  his  eyes  continued  to  scrutinize 
the  other  keenly. 

"What  would  you  do  in  my  place?"  he 
asked. 

"  Refuse  their  every  demand  and  drive  them 
into  the  sea,"  returned  Mori,  as  the  blood  tinged 
his  cheek. 

"No,  you  would  not;  that  is,  not  if  you  are 
as  far-sighted  as  I  take  you  to  be.  Japan  has 
been  sealed  to  the  foreigners  for  two  hundred 
years,  during  which  time  she  has  grown  strong 
in  the  development  of  her  resources  and  her 
civilization.  That  period  is  at  an  end.  It  can 
never  return.  Foreign  nations  will  demand 
trade  with  us.  They  will  not  depart  at  our 
refusal.  They  will  use  force,  if  necessary, 
holding  that  every  nation  must  share  in  the 
comity  of  nations.  If  a  nation  refuse,  they 
will  divide  her." 

"Pah!"  said  Mori,  impatiently.  "Isthepoli- 
cy,  then,  of  our  Imperial  realm  to  be  dictated 
by  a  hoard  of  barbarous  peoples  concerning 
whom  we  know  naught,  save  what  our  history 
in  the  past  has  taught  us?  When  in  the  years 
long  past  they  were  admitted  to  our  lands  and 
we  opened  our  arms  in  hospitality  towards 


246 


n    TflE»WOO]NG  OF  VflSTAPJA 

them,  what  was  our  reward?  Foreign  disease, 
insolent  demands,  a  fanatical  religion,  intol- 
erant and  exacting.  Finally  we  came  to  be 
treated  as  dogs  by  these  our  inferiors  until 
we  were  forced  to  expel  them,  since  which 
time  has  not  our  land  been  the  happier  for  our 
seclusion?" 

"It  would  seem,"  said  lyesada,  "that  you 
are  not,  in  spite  of  the  reports  I  have  heard 
concerning  you,  keeping  abreast  of  the  times. 
You  are  not  a  son  of  the  dawning  new  Japan ; 
you  would  retard  the  progression  which  is 
pressing  upon  us  from  all  sides." 

"I  would  not  have  this  progression  come 
from  the  outside.  I  would  have  my  country 
advance  from  within.  That  is  the  reason  I  am 
an  Imperialist.  You  are  right,  my  lord ;  a  new 
Japan  is  about  to  dawn,  but  not  through  the 
invasion  of  yonder  barbarians,  but  because 
the  rightful  ruler  of  our  country  will  be  re- 
stored to  his  throne." 

lyesada  frowned. 

"  Again  I  ask,"  continued  Mori,  flushed  with 
his  feeling,  "  do  you  intend  to  treat  with  these 
foreigners?" 

"1  will  treat  with  them.  I  will  yield,  but 
combating  every  step." 

"  I  could  declare  a  truce  with  you,"  said  Mori, 
"and  I  possess  the  power  to  enforce  it,  iS  you 
will  assume  your  rightful  function  of  war 
lord  and  expel  the  foreigners." 

lyesada  looked  him  through.     There  was  in 


247 


7WE  -WOOING  of?  \WSTARJA 


his  glance  the  patient  scorn  of  the  man  who 
sees  beyond  his  life. 

"You  appear,  Prince  of  Mori,  to  appreciate 
European  civilization,  you  who  have  fashioned 
rifles.  I  have  looked  to  you  as  one  who  might 
think  with  me.  I  thought  you  represented 
progress,  in  spite  of  the  fact  that  your  activities 
were  directed  against  myself.  I  have  left  you  to 
yourself  for  a  time.  I  thought  you  saw,  as  I 
see,  the  new  Japan,  the  Japan  that  in  self- 
defence  must  assimilate  European  civilization 
to  beat  back  these  Europeans.  I  could  offer 
you  much." 

"  I  belong  to  the  Emperor,  who  rules  by  the 
right  of  the  gods." 

To  his  feet  the  Shogun  leaped.  Into  his 
disease-deadened  eyes  there  came  the  fire  of 
strong  will.  He  raised  his  arm. 

"Sovereignty  belongs  to  —  " 

"  The  Emperor,"  finished  Mori,  passion- 
ately. 

"To  the  strongest,"  said  the  Shogun;  "to 
that  one  who,  seizing  it,  by  his  ability  and 
wisdom  uses  it  for  the  good  of  all.  I  am  strong 
—  he  is  weak.  The  strong  —  " 

The  Shogun  ceased.  Across  his  face  there 
shot  a  spasm  of  acute  pain.  His  breath  came 
in  gasps.  Mori  helped  him  to  regain  his  couch. 
He  smiled  gently,  sorrowfully. 

"  I  said  I  was  strong,  yet  I  am  indeed  weak. 
I  cannot  live  to  see  the  new  Japan.  You 
may;  but  go,  go!  I  have  tried  to  save  you 

=ST  JL  -  '-&  I       -  3  - 

248 


n     TOE  .WOOJNG  <?p  VNSTAPJA     n 

£=3p %  ^  -y 1 a : 

from  the  folly  of  blind  enthusiasm.     You  dis- 
appoint me — " 

"My  lord!" 

"I  will  allow  you  to  go  in  peace.  Until 
now  I  have  thought  well  of  you.  Now  I  give 
you  up  to  your  fate.  Your  life  is  in  danger." 

Mori's  hands  clutched  his  sword-hilt.  The 
Shogun  shook  his  hand  weakly. 

"  Not  now.  You  may  leave  the  place  safely, 
but  I  warn  you  that  henceforth  you  will  be 
hunted.  You  will  be  killed  the  moment  you 
show  yourself.  I  give  you  twelve  hours!" 

Keiki  bowed  profoundly  but  coldly. 

"As  you  please,  my  lord,"  he  said,  in  leave- 
taking. 

As  Mori  retraced  his  steps  through  cross- 
streets  he  heard  hesitating  footsteps  behind 
him. 

His  sword  flashed  out.  Running  around 
an  angle  in  the  street,  he  came  upon  a  slight 
figure. 

"Who  goes  there?"  he  shouted. 

"It  is  I,  my  lord,"  said  a  strangely  sweet 
voice. 

"  Jiro!     Well,  my  boy,  so  you  followed  me?" 

"To  protect  you,  my  lord." 
'Mori's  amused  eyes  scanned  the  slim  figure 
of  the  stripling.     He  laughed  tenderly. 

"There  was  no  need.  I  have  twelve  hours 
yet,"  he  said,  reflectively. 


249 


of  VJSTAPJA 

3£ 


S  Jiro  followed  closely  behind 
his  master  on  their  return  to  the 
little  house  by  the  water-front, 
he  noticed  signs  of  intense  pre- 
occupation and  irritation  in  Mori. 
The  boy  attempted  to  walk  beside 
him,  gazing  into  his  face  with 
that  wistful  appeal  of  the  eye 
which  Mori  had  been  unable  to 
fathom  whenever  his  attention 
was  caught  by  it.  Now  he  was  too 
much  occupied  with  his  thoughts 
to  be  more  than  disturbed  by  it. 
With  a  gesture  of  impatience  he 
exclaimed,  abruptly : 

"  Thou,  Jiro,  walk  a  space  be- 
hind me. " 


250 


WJSTAPJA 


Jiro  fell  back.  In  this  wise  they  proceeded 
for  some  minutes  until  Jiro  perceived  •  that 
Mori  was  making  signals  to  him.  Jiro,  quick- 
ening his  step,  came  nearer  to  the  Prince. 

"Jiro,  thou  sluggard,  hasten,"  called  the 
Prince. 

Jiro  made  trembling  haste. 

"  Call  a  norimon  at  once,"  ordered  his  master. 

Jiro  ran  into  an  adjacent  street,  returning 
shortly  with  the  vehicle,  at  whose  curtains  he 
stood  waiting  for  his  lord  to  enter.  Keiki's 
absent  glance  fell  upon  the  face  of  Jiro.  It 
was  tear-stained.  The  eyes  wore  that  strange 
expression  of  appeal  which  always  touched 
certain  emotions  in  the  heart  of  Mori,  so  that 
even  in  his  harshest  mood  he  could  never  be 
otherwise  than  gentle  with  the  lad.  Enter- 
ing the  palanquin,  he  drew  Jiro  in  after  him. 

For  a  time  they  travelled  in  silence.  Jiro 
broke  it  to  inquire  very  timidly: 

"Whither  do  we  go,  my  lord?" 

If  Mori  heard  him  he  made  no  sign.  The 
journey  was  continued  in  silence.  At  the  end 
of  what  seemed  to  Jiro  two  full  hours,  Mori 
dismounted  from  the  carriage  and  bade  the 
runners  wait  for  him.  Jiro  saw  that  they  were 
upon  the  ridge  of  a  headland  overlooking  the 
bay  at  whose  head  stood  the  Shogun's  city  of 
Yedo. 

At  a  sign  from  Keiki  the  boy  followed  the 
Prince  down  a  path  leading  to  the  shore  below. 
As  they  made  their  rough  way  along,  Jiro  saw 


251 


TttE-WQQJNG  qf*  VJ5TAPJA     n 

lights  flashing  out  in  the  bay,  and  occasionally 
he  thought  he  heard  the  sound  of  oars. 

A  great  distance  up  the  shore  he  saw  men  at 
work  upon  a  little  building  facing  the  bay. 
They  were  busily  engaged  by  the  light  of 
abundant  torches.  The  speed  of  Mori,  how- 
ever, permitted  the  boy  to  take  few  observa- 
tions. Already  his  breathing  was  heavy  and 
labored  in  his  attempt  to  keep  up  with  his 
master. 

As  they  neared  the  water  the  curvature  of 
the  shore  hid  the  torch-lighted  spot  from  view. 
With  sullen  glance  directed  ahead  of  him, 
Mori  kept  on  until  he  stood  almost  at  the  edge 
of  the  water,  which  in  lapping,  inky  darkness 
glided  and  twisted  at  his  feet.  Then  with  his 
chin  resting  upon  his  arm,  half  reclining 
against  a  giant  bowlder  which,  torn  from  the 
headland  above,  had  ploughed  a  grudging  way 
hither,  Keiki  looked  out  across  the  water. 

It  was  silent — a  silence  made  impressive  and 
accentuated  by  elemental  sounds,  the  lapping 
of  the  water  below,  the  bursting  of  a  crested 
wave,  the  swirl  of  pebbles  and  sand  thrust 
insistently  up  the  beach  by  the  drive  of  the 
water.  The  darkness  seemed  a  thing  alive, 
which,  taking  on  fiendish,  malign  personali- 
ty, sought  to  blind  the  mind,  the  heart,  the 
emotions,  as  it  did  the  eyes. 

There  was  an  all-pervading  suggestion  of 
fate,  of  adversity,  of  other  propagated  in- 
fluences through  the  night.  Subtle  spirits 

4  1  «*-  *  J • 

U  252 


TflE.WOOJNG  of  VJSTAPJA 

^rzrrr-%   '      3L          --%          .juz: 

hovered,  circled  through  the  air,  met,  clashed 
their  wings,  turned,  trembled  down,  down. 
Jiro  could  have  shrieked  aloud,  could  he  have 
found  voice. 

Gradually,  faintly,  as  the  monotony  of  the 
natural  sounds  numbed  his  physical  sense  of 
hearing,  Jiro  found  that  a  new  sense  of  appeal 
to  his  ear  was  being  made,  off  in  the  darkness. 
As  they  reached  his  consciousness,  with  their 
unmistakable  human  origin  strongly  impress- 
ed, his  fright  gave  way.  In  its  place  came  the 
calm  of  nerves  raised  to  a  higher  tension.  It 
was  now  the  creaking  of  chains,  the  wooden 
friction  of  oars,  the  movements  of  men  on  board 
ship.  All  at  once  lights  gleamed  forth.  They 
defined  by  their  frequency  and  position  the  out- 
lines of  a  vessel  not  unlike  the  smaller  native 
boats  plying  in  the  bay.  Other  lights  appeared 
in  quick  succession.  Soon  the  forms  of  four 
giant  vessels  were  indicated  rather  than  re- 
vealed. 

" The  foreigner!"  said  Jiro,  under  his  breath. 

Then  high  up  in  the  air,  above  the  lead- 
ing of  the  four  defined  vessels,  flashed  a  vari- 
ety of  colored  lights.  These  were  instantly 
answered  from  the  others.  There  was  the 
rhythmic  sound  of  men  at  work  upon  some 
&  machine,  the  clatter  of  chains  at  the  bows,  and 
the  vessels  moved  nearer  to  the  shore. 

These  manoeuvres  were  partially  understood 
by  Keiki.  The  lord  of  that  fleet,  hitherto  un- 
seen by  any  Japanese,  was  getting  up  his 

—         j.         t^_^_         _  -_- -.  _-rrT      ^  -_    :  i \ 

C— 3 a{ .     ...JL, -gfc= —  JU—          .    jdL-         -^£. 

*>  253  B 


*.  WQ°)N& 


anchors  and  drawing  nearer  to  the  shore, 
having  sent  out  his  boats  first  to  take  proper 
soundings. 

Every  light  below  the  deck  line  revealed  an 
open  port,  and  every  open,  lighted  port  show- 
ed a  gun  slung  shoreward.  The  squadron's 
people  were  to  land  the  next  day,  but  they  were 
all  vigilance  in  the  mean  time. 

One  by  one  the  vessels  moved  to  their  new 
positions.  After  an  interval,  the  noise  and 
movement  seemed  to  cease  about  them.  A 
light  was  hoisted  aloft  on  board  the  leading 
vessel.  Instantly  every  light  disappeared  from 
the  ports,  and  the  blackness  of  the  night  again 
enveloped  their  movements. 

Mori  turned  towards  the  boy,  noting  curious- 
ly the  spasmodic  working  of  his  features. 

"What  is  it,  Jiro?"  he  asked,  kindly. 

"It  is  a  strange  civilization,"  said  Jiro,  in  a 
choking  voice. 

"  Civilization  !  '  '  repeated  Keiki  —  "  civiliza- 
tion! I  seem  to  hear  that  word  everywhere 
to-night." 


254 


TtfE 


ojf?  NASTARtA 


LL  through  the  night,  while 
Mori  and  other  Imperialists  look- 
ed interrogatively  to  the  forces 
within  and  without  the  coun- 
try, and  while  the  dreaded 
foreigners  kept  careful  watch 
upon  their  ships,  native  arti- 
sans reared  the  structure  after- 
wards known  in  the  memories 
of  the  strangers  as  the  "  Treaty 
House/' 

Simple  as  was  the  building,  its 
erection  was  attended  with  cer- 
tain outward  signs  which  would 
have  led  the  observer  to  identify 
in  them  the  same  spirit  pervad- 
ing the  market  -  place,  the  open 

255 


„    THE  .WOOJNG  of  WJSTAPJ  A 


public    gathering    space,    the    theatres,   the 
shops. 

Those  who  labored  under  torch-light,  an  un- 
usual proceeding  in  itself,  were  impressed  with 
a  misshapen,  grotesque,  wholly  undefined  fear. 
Artisans  as  they  were,  they  realized,  if  sub- 
consciously, that  their  act  had  in  it  the  germs 
of  a  future — dark  and  ominous,  their  instincts 
asserted.  The  Japanese  officials — of  a  minor 
grade — who  directed  the  work,  being  higher  in 
the  scale  of  intelligence,  were  by  no  means  so 
vague  in  their  minds.  They  believed  firmly 
that  the  raising  of  this  simple  building  meant 
the  downfall  of  their  country,  its  government, 
its  institutions.  Rapacious  foreigners  for  two 
centuries  had  insulted  them  and  flouted  at 
Japan,  had  returned  to  accept  no  delay  or 
parley. 

Indeed,  certain  sub-rosa  expressions  of  opin- 
ion and  declarations  of  purpose  among  offi- 
cers of  the  fleet,  translated  to  them  by  visitors 
to  the  foreign  ships  of  that  alien  nation  alone 
tolerated  in  Japan  at  this  period — the  Dutch — 
had  deepened  the  alarm.  The  strangers  had 
said  in  effect :  "  No  nation  has  a  right  to  with- 
draw herself  from  the  comity  and  commerce  of 
other  nations.  Japan  must  come  to  this  view ;  \ 
amicably,  if  possible,  but  through  cannoned 
arguments  if  not  otherwise." 

Every  act  of  the  strangers  thus  far  had  been 
in  accord  with  this  secret  expression  of  policy. 
The  reserve  and  punctilious  etiquette  of  the  L 


256 


*  WISTARIA 


Japanese  had  been  met  with  a  bold  advance 
by  Commodore  Perry's  squadron.  At  each 
pretext  for  delay  advanced  by  the  Japanese 
the  ships  had  moved  nearer  to  Yedo,  believed 
by  the  officers  of  the  squadron,  knowing  noth- 
ing of  the  Shogun-Emperor  relationship,  to  be 
the  capital  of  the  Emperor  of  Japan. 

When  Perry  had  been  told  that  he  might  de- 
liver his  letters  and  credentials  to  minor  of- 
ficials, he  had  replied  that  first  they  must  send 
to  him  commissioners  second  in  rank  only  to  the 
Emperor.  Perry  himself,  imitating  the  seclu- 
sion of  those  whom  he  sought  to  reach,  took  care 
to  be  seen  or  approached  by  no  Japanese,  dele- 
gating inferior  officers  to  the  task.  Now  for 
the  first  time  he  was  to  show  himself  to  the 
people,  and  the  nobles,  the  princes  Aidzu  and 
Catzu,  in  their  capacity  of  high  commissioners 
were  to  meet  him. 

Thus  it  was  that  all  watched  the  work  upon 
the  Treaty  House  in  sullen  emotion.  The 
workmen  themselves  moved  in  complete  si- 
lence, which  was  broken  not  by  word,  but 
only  by  the  noise  of  their  operations.  Their 
superiors  gave  their  instructions  by  gesture 
or  brief  word. 

The  building  itself  was  not  pretentious,  al- 
though its  situation  on  a  slight  elevation  near 
the  water  was  central,  in  full  view  of  the  fleet 
out  in  the  bay,  and  was  overlooked  by  the  sur- 
rounding heights  and  bluffs.  It  consisted  of 
an  ante-chamber  and  a  long  audience  -  hall, 

3  -X  tfe-  J a 

257 


TOE  .V/OOJNG  Qp  \WSTAR) A 

_*    I         ,-••-.  — *T-~  — -"J^  — —— no-  •• ""^r~" 


around  whose  side  a  sort  of  divan  had  been 
built.  At  the  head  of  this  apartment  a  number 
of  chairs  were  placed  for  the  comfort  of  the 
foreigners.  In  the  centre  of  the  space,  upon  a 
raised  platform,  whose  tapestries  and  hang- 
ings suggested  the  altar  of  some  semi  -  barba- 
rian church,  stood  an  immense,  red  -  lacquered 
box,  destined  for  the  reception  of  the  papers 
brought  by  the  foreigners  for  transmittal  to  the 
"Emperor." 

In  the  distance  were  the  encampments  con- 
taining the  retinues  of  the  princes  Aidzu  and 
Catzu,  to  which  the  artisans  withdrew  when,  as 
a  final  touch  of  preparation,  they  had  secluded 
the  entire  surrounding  of  the  Treaty  House  by 
the  erection  of  huge  bamboo  and  silken  screens. 

All  were  now  awaiting  the  hour  of  eleven  in 
the  morning,  the  hour  set  for  the  ceremonial. 
The  departure  of  a  boat  from  the  Susquehanna 
was  observed.  In  addition  to  its  rowing  crew, 
it  contained  a  single  officer  in  the  stern. 

Those  about  the  Treaty  House  watched  the 
dancing  course  of  the  boat  over  the  waves, 
until,  having  discharged  its  officer  at  the  coast- 
line, it  withdrew  into  stiller  water;  watched 
with  seeming  apprehension  his  landward 
course  up  the  heights. 

The  officer  was  young  ;  he  knew  a  few  words 
of  Japanese,  and  went  at  once  to  the  point 
upon  his  arrival  before  the  Treaty  House. 

"What  do  these  screens  mean?"  he  de- 
manded. 


258 


TflE  -VjaojNG  of?  VflSTARJA 


The  minor  officials  looked  from  one  to  an- 
other. One  official,  a  determined  expression 
passing  for  an  instant  over  his  face,  stepped 
forward.  He  bowed  politely. 

"We  —  insignificant  and  unworthy  brained 
men  that  we  are  —  cannot  understand  that 
honorable  language  that  you  speak.  It  is  not 
Japanese,  nor  yet  Dutch,  which  alone  we  know.  " 

Enough  of  this  speech  was  understood  by 
the  lieutenant.  Plainly,  they  pretended  not  to 
understand  his  Japanese. 

"  Wherefore  these  hidings  of  the  light  of  the 
honorable  sun  from  our  insignificant  eyes?" 
he  continued  in  Japanese,  changing  his  idiom. 

Again  came  the  answer  of  the  Japanese 
official. 

"Your  excellency,  we  cannot  understand." 

The  lieutenant  uttered  an  oath.  These 
heathen  were  trying,  he  told  himself. 

"Any  one  here  speak  English?"  he  de- 
manded. 

Instantly  a  figure  sprang  forward  out  of  the 
crowd  of  sightseers  beyond  the  military  lines. 
Having  advanced  boldly,  the  volunteer  hesi- 
tated an  instant,  as  if  he  had  acted  upon  an 
impulse,  regretted  a  moment  too  late.  It  was 
Mori,  but  Mori  still  in  disguise. 

The  American  lieutenant  saw  his  hesitation. 

"Do  you  speak  English?" 

Keiki  summoned  such  knowledge  of  the 
language  as  Satsuma  had  taught  him.  He 
answered  briefly: 


259 


"Yes." 

"Then  ask  what  these  screens  have  been 
put  up  for." 

Keiki  repeated  the  question  to  the  Japanese 
officer,  who,  angered  at  his  penetration  of  their 
evasion,  cast  surly  glances  upon  him.  They 
answered  readily,  however.  Mori  translated 
their  reply  into  English  a  moment  later. 

"They  say/'  he  reported,  "that  in  Nippon 
all  great  gatherings  are  private.  These 
screens  keep  off  the  common,  low  people." 

"  Tell  them  these  things  must  come  down," 
ordered  the  officer,  in  what  the  Japanese  con- 
sidered an  impolite,  not  to  say  insolent,  tone. 

Mori  translated. 

"What  do  they  say?"  asked  the  lieutenant. 

There  was  a  pause. 

"Nothing  yet,"  said  Mori,  stiffly. 

While  the  officials  still  stared,  the  officer  turn- 
ed to  the  offending  screens.  With  his  own 
hands  he  began  their  demolition.  Slowly,  one 
by  one,  the  Japanese  joined  him.  Soon  the 
space  once  enclosed  by  the  screens  was  bare 
to  the  view  of  all  on  the  American  vessels. 
The  officer  moved  towards  his  boat. 

"  I  wish  to  speak  some  more  words  with  you," 
said  Mori,  following  him. 

"Oh,  certainly.     What  is  it?" 

"Not  here,  if  you  please.  Down  by  the 
boat." 

"Come." 

Followed  by  the  angry  looks  of  the  whole    jj, 


260 


f 


TOE  .WOPING  Of  \W5TAPJA     n 

:=$ %  4  -'T-  I      -X 

group  of  Japanese  sub-officials,  in  which  there 
was  distinct  hostility  towards  himself,  Mori 
went  with  the  lieutenant  to  a  spot  towards 
which  the  boat  was  approaching. 

"Now  what  can  I  do  for  you?"  inquired  the 
officer,  more  affably. 

"You  think  you  treat  with  the  Emperor?" 
inquired  Mori,  his  face  flushed  by  the  other's 
lack  of  courtesy. 

"Certainly." 

"You  do  not." 

"What?" 

The  officer  started,  ygarding  Mori  scepti- 
cally. 

"No,  you  do  not.  You  but  treat  with  his 
war  lord — the  Shogun." 

"•What's  the  Shogun?" 

"  There  are  two  emperors  in  Japan ;  one  the 
rightful  emperor,  the  Mikado;  the  other  his 
vassal,  his  war  lord,  who  is  without  authority 
to  deal  with  you.  He  makes  seeming  sub- 
mission to  the  Emperor." 

"Is  this  true?" 

"Tell  it  to  your  master,  that  Lord  Perry. 
Ask  that  he  demand  the  truth  from  those  sent 
to  meet  him,  in  the  public  gathering." 

"  Why,  this  is  astounding !  It  must  be  look- 
ed into.  Will  you  come  on  board  with  me  and 
report  it  in  person?" 

Mori  shook  his  head. 

"  No,  I  cannot,"  he  replied,  "  but  let  him  seek 
the  truth  where  it  must  be  told  unto  him." 

^—foi      "a"~        -^          *$-        3         *r 
«*  261 


TOE  ^QQJISG  OF  VJ1STAPJ  A 

rfc  %  -$  ""^  X    . . 

They  had  been  speaking  in  Japanese,  with 
an  occasional  word  of  English,  when  one  was 
unable  to  understand  the  other's  rendering  of 
its  equivalent.  The  officer  returned  to  English. 

"Your  name?"  he  asked. 

Mori  replied  in  Japanese. 

"  Your  master  is  honorably  ignorant  of  my 
name  and  rank.  The  truth  from  any  source 
is  sufficient.  Ask  at  the  proper  place,  and  you 
will  know  that  I  speak  truth/' 

The  officer  paused,  with  one  leg  lifted  over 
the  gunwale  of  the  boat.  He  made  a  sudden 
movement  towards  his  men,  sitting  with  raised 
oars. 

"Seize  him!"  he  ordered. 

Before  the  sailors  could  drop  their  oars  and 
obey,  Keiki,  who  divined  the  significance  of 
the  words,  ran  rapidly  along  the  sandy  beach, 
disappearing  beyond  a  headland. 

"Damned  awkward,  this,"  commented  the 
lieutenant,  "  but  it  must  be  reported  to  the  old 
man."  Then  to  his  crew: 

"Give  way,  men!" 


262 


THE 


HATEVER  speculation  the  sud- 
den friendly  interposition  of  a 
Japanese  into  the  American  of- 
ficer's dilemma  caused  among 
the  sub-officials  in  charge  of  the 
Treaty  House,  it  did  not  run  a 
lengthy  course.  News  that  was 
whispered  about,  first  among  the 
multitude  of  unofficial  visitors 
crowding  all  the  surrounding 
-}  points  of  vantage  not  occupied 
by  the  Shogun's  troops,  pene- 
trated gradually  to  the  focal 
spot  of  the  greatest  curiosity, 
the  Treaty  House.  It  was  an 
event  of  secondary  importance 
to  the  expected  visit  from  the 

afe*  jt  3THH 

263 


WiSTAPJ  A 


men-of-war.  The  princes  Aidzu  and  Catzu 
had  arrived  from  Yedo,  and  were  now  awaiting 
the  foreigners  in  the  quarters  prepared  for  them. 

Many  of  those  present  had  never  seen  these 
powerful  princes.  So,  crowding  past  the  com- 
mon soldiers,  they  pressed  upon  their  head- 
quarters, until  stopped  by  the  chosen  guard 
of  samurai  surrounding  the  princely  pavilions. 

About  the  tent  of  Catzu  the  press  of  the  mob 
was  heaviest.  The  huge  Sir  Genji,  toying 
with  his  glittering  blade  significantly  when- 
ever a  curious  citizen  came  too  near  the  en- 
trance, remarked  grimly  to  a  fellow-samurai  : 

"Of  a  truth,  all  the  dogs  of  Nippon  invade 
our  ranks  to-day.  I  have  only  to  extend  my 
sword  to  split  a  dozen  fat  merchants/' 

"  Extend  it,  then/'  growled  the  other,  as  with 
the  flat  of  his  blade  he  dealt  a  gentle  blow  upon 
the  pate  of  a  vender  of  wines. 

The  treatment  accorded  to  the  crowd  by  the 
samurai  engendered  no  bitterness.  The  mer- 
cantile classes,  awed  at  all  times  by  the  sight 
of  one  in  samurai  orders,  shrank  back  at  the 
first  sign  of  displeasure  brought  upon  them- 
selves from  the  proudest  grade  in  Japan. 

Nor,  indeed,  was  the  real  displeasure  of  the 
samurai  at  any  time  in  evidence.  They,  too, 
like  the  common  people,  were  engrossed  in  the 
expectation  of  events.  Although  their  im- 
passive faces  did  not  permit  the  revelation  of 
their  real  feeling,  there  was  among  them  the 
same  subtle  curiosity  and  foreboding. 


264 


THE  A 


From  across  the  bay,  rolling  and  reverberat- 
ing, striking  the  rocky  angles  of  the  highlands 
and  driven  back  repulsed,  came  the  long  roar 
of  the  foreigners'  saluting  guns.  Instantly 
the  populace  became  silent,  riveted  to  what- 
ever locality  they  occupied. 

Among  the  ships  there  was  bustle  and  move- 
ment. The  foreigners  weje  lowering  boats 
from  every  vessel  in  their  squadron.  With 
their  crews  and  officers  sitting  in  them,  the 
boats  swung  from  the  davits  into  the  water. 
Plainly  the  squadron  was  sending  every  man 
and  officer  to  be  spared. 

While  the  guns  were  still  vomiting  forth 
their  salute  to  the  ^occasion,  the  Lord  Catzu 
came  forth  from  his  tent.  With  a  wave  of  his 
hand  he  turned  to  Genji. 

"  Drive  me  back  this  rabble,"  he  ordered. 

Instantly  the  samurai,  joining  with  the  com- 
mon troop,  beat  back  the  mass  of  citizens, 
forcing  open  a  wide  lane,  that  extended  but 
a  short  distance  towards  the  Treat}7  House. 
Where  no  guards  were,  there  the  people  ob- 
structed the  passage. 

Genji  quickly  remedied  this  by  despatching 
guards  to  clear  a  pathway  to  a  point  where 
a  similar  line  from  the  Prince  of  Aidzu's  pavil- 
ion should  join.  Into  the  two  paths  opened 
by  the  Shogun's  troops  the  cortege  of  the  two 
prince  -  commissioners  passed.  That  of  the 
Lord  Catzu  was  headed  by  a  troop  of  the  young 
sons  of  samurai,  boys  small  in  stature,  bearing 


265 


TtfE. WOOING  <*F  NWSTARlA 


aloft  a  silken  banner  whose  gold  embroideries 
were  the  crests  of  the  Shogun  and  his  feudal 
vassal  Catzu.  Next  rode  a  troop  of  inferior 
samurai,  heavily  armed,  on  black  horses. 
After  them  came  the  chief  vassal  of  the  Lord 
Catzu,  mounted  on  a  white  horse,  with  three  of 
his  own  vassals,  each  with  his  train  of  at- 
tendants. Finally,  at  the  head  of  a  brilliant 
and  sparkling  train  of  warriors  and  courtiers, 
came  the  imposing  and  portly  Lord  of  Catzu, 
carried  in  a  gilded  norimon.  A  company  of 
samurai,  whose  chief  upon  all  ordinary  oc- 
casions was  Sir  Genji,  brought  up  the  rear. 

The  train  of  the  Prince  of  Aidzu  was,  in 
general  order  and  arrangement,  similar  to  that 
of  the  Lord  Catzu. 

The  two  corteges  moved  in  lines  slightly 
converging  until  they  met.  Then  the  heads 
of  each  side  column  or  division  rode  side  by 
side.  Throughout  the  whole  company,  in 
perfect  order,  this  arrangement  held,  the  left 
train  of  the  Lord  Catzu  being  nearer  the  bay 
than  that  of  Aidzu.  So  completely  was  the 
symmetry  of  the  parallel  movement  carried 
out  that  the  Prince  of  Catzu  had  on  his  left  the 
Prince  of  Aidzu. 

At  the  moment  of  complete  juncture,  a  word 
of  command  sped  back  among  the  allied  ranks. 
In  a  moment  Genji,  at  the  head  of  a  large  body 
of  mounted  samurai,  passed  to  the  right  of  his 
lord  on  his  way  to  the  van.  A  similar  body 
passed  along  the  left. 


266 


These  samurai,  arrived  at  the  front,  rapidly 
drove  the  crowds  back  from  the  line  of  march, 
leaving  a  passage,  which  they  lined  at  inter- 
vals, clear  to  the  Treaty  House.  Each  samu- 
rai rode  back  and  forth  in  the  side  space  he  had 
kept  free  to  himself. 

The  gorgeous  pageant  advanced  rapidly 
through  the  short  passage  until  its  head  rested 
upon  the  entrance  of  the  Treaty  House.  In- 
stantly the  lines  of  the  two  princes  divided  as 
before,  falling  back  on  either  side  until  the  two 
norimons  of  the  princes  were  reached.  These 
advanced  as  before  until  the  chief  vassal  of 
each  prince  stood  before  the  Treaty  House. 
Then  the  vassals  assisted  their  lords  to  dis- 
mount from  their  norimons,  bowing  deeply 
and  profoundly  as  they  did  so. 

Side  by  side  the  two  commissioners  marched 
to  the  door  of  entrance,  whose  threshold  they 
crossed  alone.  After  a  respectful  interval  the 
chief  vassals  and  functionaries,  with  a  number 
of  samurai,  followed  their  lords.  The  military 
force  and  other  attendants  still  stood  with  their 
ranks  open  outside.  Genji  gave  a  quick  com- 
mand, and,  the  double  ranks  closing,  faced 
about  so  as  to  present  a  solid  armed  front  to 
any  one  moving  against  the  Treaty  House. 

Inside,  the  princes  with  their  chief  commis- 
sioners were  ranged  at  the  head  of  the  Treaty 
House,  in  silent  waiting  on  the  foreigners. 

Meanwhile  the  fleet  of  small  boats  from  the 
squadron  were  nearing  the  shore.  Splendid 


267 


as  was  the  retinue  of  the  commissioners,  and 
outnumbering  as  it  did  that  of  the  Americans, 
yet  it  was  apparent  at  a  glance  that  Perry  had 
stripped  his  ships  of  all  but  a  small  force. 
The  boats,  crowded  to  the  gunwales,  moved 
slowly  to  the  landing-place,  built  over-night. 

First,  the  bodies  of  sailor-soldiers  were  dis- 
embarked. They  wore  the  dress  of  sailors, 
but  each  carried  a  musket.  Then  a  band  came 
ashore.  Finally  the  officers  of  the  squadron 
and  Perry's  staff  itself  mingled  with  the  others. 
A  small  guard  was  left  with  the  boats  before 
the  march  was  taken  up  to  the  Treaty  House. 
Then,  in  quick  step  to  the  music  of  the  band, 
the  company  set  off,  travelling  at  twice  the 
pace  of  the  Japanese  retinues. 

The  band  marched  first.  Then  came  the 
marines  with  their  officers.  In  the  centre  was 
the  Commodore  Perry,  with  his  staff.  Follow- 
ing were  more  marines  and  officers. 

As  this  array  proceeded  in  the  quick,  sharp, 
uniform  step  peculiar  to  disciplined  bodies, 
there  were  no  shouts  of  applause,  no  encourag- 
ing cheers,  no  uncovering  of  heads,  no  clapping 
of  hands.  The  silent  multitudes  regarded 
them  sullenly,  expectantly,  fearfully: 

"Gad!"  exclaimed  a  young  lieutenant, 
"they  don't  take  to  us.  This  is  no  Fifth 
Avenue  parade/' 

"No,  it  is  not.  More  like  action,"  mumbled 
his  companion. 

When  the  officers  came  within  sight  of  the 

— a    -     i.          »         i         3~ — 

268 


dU 


%  a  -          -fr  X: 


entrance  and  saw  the  columns  hostilely  ar- 
ranged, there  was  a  movement  of  alarm.  But 
quickly  the  dual  force  of  Catzu  and  Aidzu 
spread  out  to  permit  a  passage  through  itself. 

The  Americans  gave  an  order.  Their  band 
went  suddenly  to  the  rear,  its  place  taken 
by  a  body  of  marines,  who  moved  until  their 
head  rested  upon  the  door  of  entrance.  They 
in  turn  opened  a  way  for  the  division  at  whose 
head  marched  the  chief  officer.  With  arms 
at  "present,"  they  stood  awaiting  its  ap- 
proach. 

At  the  head  of  the  division  now  advancing, 
under  the  colors  and  backed  by  minor  of- 
ficers, strode  a  commanding  figure.  It  was 
that  of  a  full-bodied,  ruddy,  stern  -  featured 
man,  in  whose  every  poise  of  body  and  head 
was  command.  He  was  bareheaded.  About 
his  temples  the  breeze  from  the  bay  scattered 
his  short,  slightly  gray  hair. 

The  sight  of  the  Japanese  army  in  its  menac- 
ing position,  facing  the  multitudes,  may  have 
carried  alarm  to  his  soul.  It  had  been  in- 
stantly met  by  his  counter  arraying  of  marines ; 
but  there  was  no  fear  manifest  in  face,  gait,  or 
manner.  Without  pause  he  entered  quickly 
the  audience  -  hall,  followed  by  his  officers. 
Turning  his  head  to  neither  side,  he  seated 
himself  in  a  chair  similar  in  respect  and  posi- 
tion to  those  occupied  by  the  commissioners. 

There  was  a  pause,  a  momentary  embarrass- 
ment was  felt  by  all  present  Then  the  Amer- 

—*  I  *  J  *      ~ 

269 


TflE  J^OOJNG  op  \fl5TAPJA     n 


ican  commodore  summoned  the  Dutch  inter- 
preter, through  whom  the  conversation  was 
to  take  place. 

"Inform  them/'  he  said,  "that  I  have  some 
questions  to  ask." 


270 


CEZ2E 


HEN  the  company  of  foreign- 
ers had  passed  into  the  Treaty 
House,  the  few  moments  in- 
tervening before  the  beginning 
of  the  ceremonies  within  were 
employed  by  the  samurai  still 
on  guard  outside  in  scrutinizing 
the  cards  of  those  citizens  whose 
rank  permitted  them  to  fill  the 
vacant  rear  of  the  hall. 

At  first  the  samurai,  exact- 
ing in  their  task,  examined 
carefully  the  invitation  of  each 
applicant.  When,  however, 
those  in  charge  warned  them 
that  the  time  was  short,  they 
crowded  ceremoniously  within 

•4  -  it-          T.  ii 

271 


TOE  .WOOJMO  <*F  VJ3TAPJA 


their  lines  into  the  hall,  while  those  without, 
whether  card-holders  or  not,  were  driven  back 
roughly. 

The  movement  had  been  noted  in  its  first 
stages  by  Mori,  who  with  Toro  and  Jiro  had 
been  forcing  his  way  steadily  towards  the 
guarding  samurai.  When  the  first  press  of 
the  rejected  smote  him  on  all  sides,  he  turn- 
ed to  Jiro. 

"If  we  are  separated  in  this  turmoil,  I 
would  charge  you,  Jiro  —  "  he  began. 

The  sudden  interposition  of  a  double  rank 
of  samurai  drove  him  back,  while  it  swept  his 
companions  within  the  circle  of  those  being 
forced  into  the  Treaty  House.  Turning,  Jiro 
watched  Mori  struggle  under  the  disadvantage 
the  crowd  imposed  upon  him.  Then,  with  a 
resigned  smile  and  a  shrug  of  the  shoulders, 
Mori  made  to  Jiro  a  sign  of  writing.  A  mo- 
ment more  and  Toro  and  Jiro  found  them- 
selves within  the  audience  -  chamber.  They 
gained  places  beside  an  opening  through 
which  the  samurai  preserving  order  outside 
could  be  seen. 

When  the  American  commodore  addressed 
his  first  words  to  the  interpreter,  the  Lord  of 
Catzu  arose.  Toro  and  Jiro  whispered  to- 
gether as  they  caught  sight  of  the  gorgeous 
figure.  The  interpreter  translated  to  him  the 
words  of  the  American.  Then  through  the 
interpreter  the  Lord  of  Catzu  made  reply: 

"  August  sir,  Lord  Admiral  of  the  unknown 


272 


TOE  .WOOJNG  Of  NflSTAR)  A 

iff  -  ^  -1=         -fr          i 

fleet,  we  will  have  joy  in  answering  your 
honorable  questions  —  any  and  all  —  in  good 
time/'  he  said.  "But  first  allow  us  to  offer 
our  apologies.  We  were  unable  to  provide 
you  with  arm-chairs  such  as  your  excellency 
is  accustomed  to  occupy  on  board  your  honor- 
able ships;  for  that  reason  we  are  greatly 
pained,  and  trust  you  will  overlook  our  im- 
politeness. But  that  chair  which  you  now 
fill  and  whose  brothers  we  humbly  occupy, 
out  of  compliment  to  your  excellency,  re- 
sembles it  so  far  as  our  abilities  have  been 
able  to  copy  it." 

The  American  commodore  looked  at  the 
chair  he  occupied.  If  the  first  words  of  the 
commissioner  appealed  at  all  to  his  risibili- 
ties, he  was  both  too  courteous  a  gentleman 
and  too  astute  a  diplomat  to  betray  any  sign. 
His  face  was  grave  to  solemnity  as  he  regard- 
ed the  superb  workmanship  of  the  chair  upon 
which  he  sat,  plainly  an  Oriental  interpreta- 
tion of  an  American  article. 

"The  chair  is  comfortable.  It  serves  its 
purpose  and  honors  its  makers,"  he  made 
reply.  "But  I  desire  before  presenting  my 
credentials  to  question  the  prince  -  commis- 
sioners." 

Some  one  tapped  Jiro  lightly  upon  the 
shoulder.  Looking  about,  he  saw  that  a 
samurai,  half  extended  through  the  window, 
had  thus  drawn  his  attention,  and  he  was 
now  making  him  the  peculiar  secret  sign  of 


273 


QF  VJSTAPJA 


n 


the  Imperialist,  that  of  dropping  suddenly 
downward  the  left  hand  with  the  little  finger 
extended.  Jiro  looked  into  the  face  of  the 
samurai  Genji,  where  a  smile  of  peculiar 
meaning  shone.  In  the  shock  of  surprise, 
Jiro's  face  was  raised  so  that  Genji's  eyes 
gazed  closely  upon  the  entire  contour,  as  for 
a  moment  the  hair  fell  back  from  the  youth's 
brow.  Instantly  the  smile  in  Genji's  face 
changed.  His  expression  became  involved. 
In  it,  Jiro  read  surprise,  then  delight,  distrust, 
and  apprehension. 

As  Jiro's  eyes  met  Genji's  again,  the  crim- 
son flushed  with  sudden  violence  the  lad's 
cheeks.  His  eyes  sank.  Genji  slipped  into 
his  hand  a  tiny  roll. 

"What  is  it?"  whispered  Toro. 

"Genji,"  said  Jiro,  with  an  expression  of 
terror;  "he  recognized  me." 

"But  what  did  he  want?" 

Then  Jiro  recalled  the  paper  in  his  hands. 
He  opened  it  with  trembling  fingers.  It  was 
brief,  and  from  Mori,  who  had  evidently  trust- 
ed his  old  friend  Genji  to  deliver  it  to  his  at- 
tendant Jiro. 

"  If  aught  is  said  of  the  cause,  defend  /"he 
read. 

"What  is  the  meaning?"  said  Toro. 

"Plainly  what  he  says,"  returned  Jiro;  "if 
any  one  speaks  ill  of  the  cause  I  am  to  silence 
and  confound  him." 

Toro  smiled  with  superiority. 

IH3T      'A  gr          JL  A 

274 


THE^VOOJNG  °^  NWSTARJA 

"You!"  he  whispered;  "it  is  for  me." 

With  a  passionate  movement  of  negation, 
Jiro  thrust  the  epistle  into  his  bosom. 

"Do  nothing,"  urged  Toro;  "if  you  disturb 
this  gathering  you  are  as  good  as  dead.  For 
a  samurai  it  would  be  a  pleasing  feat."  Toro 
swelled  in  appreciation.  "  But  for  you — "  He 
broke  off.  "Mori  would  not  have  asked  it  if 
he  had  known — " 

"Silence!"  whispered  Jiro.     "Listen." 

Several  of  the  Dutchman's  translations  had 
been  lost  by  Toro  and  Jiro,  but  the  interpreter 
was  now  speaking  again  for  the  American. 

"I  desire  to  know,"  he  said,  "before  I  de- 
liver my  letters,  with  whom  I  am  treating — with 
what  Emperor — with  which  of  the  two?" 

The  Japanese  were  astounded. 

"You  are  dealing  with  the  Emperor  of 
Japan,"  they  responded. 

"But  there  are  two.     Which  one?" 

"We  are  unable  to  explain,"  said  Aidzu; 
"we  cannot  account  for  your  strange  belief." 

"Perhaps,"  interjected  the  wily  Catzu,  "the 
Lord  Admiral  has  confounded  the  head  of  our 
religion  with  the  head  of  our  state." 

"  I  must  speak,"  said  Jiro,  who  was  laboring 
under  repressed  excitement.  "It  is  time." 

"Tsh-h!"  growled  Toro,  staying  his  effort 
to  rise. 

"Let  the  prince  -  commissioner  continue.  I 
have  been  told  that  there  are  two  emperors 
in  this  land,  and  that  I  have  been  placed  in 


275 


TftE-WOQJNG  Of?  \W3TAR1A     n 

%  ^tn=          -^        . .  Urr~ 

communication  with  the  inferior,  who  is  with- 
out authority  to  ratify  his  acts." 

"I  assure  you,  my  Lord  Admiral,"  said 
Catzu,  "that  you  have  fallen  into  an  error 
common  to  foreigners." 

"Possibly,"  was  Perry's  brief  assent. 

"  We  have  two  heads,  one  a  font  of  wisdom, 
the  other  of  action.  The  one  is  the  spiritual 
head,  the  divine  Emperor;  the  other  the  true 
ruler  and  Emperor,  with  whom  you  are  in 
communication.  The  spiritual  head  is  without 
authority  in  mundane  affairs.  You  make  no 
error,  for  we,  the  princes  of  Japan's  real  ruler, 
tell  you  this." 

Despite  every  attempted  restraint  of  Toro, 
Jiro  leaped  to  his  feet. 

"Thou  liest!  Thou  knowest  there  is  but 
one  true  ruler  in  Japan,  the  Mikado!"  he 
shouted,  in  a  voice  that,  rapidly  ascending  in 
pitch,  became  femininely  shrill. 

Every  eye  in  the  assembly,  foreign  and 
Japanese,  turned  upon  the  slight,  quivering 
figure  there  by  the  breeze -swept  opening. 
The  Lord  of  Catzu,  still  upon  his  feet,  stood 
like  a  sable  statue,  his  arm  still  held  aloft 
in  the  concluding  gesture  he  had  used  a  mo- 
ment before.  The  Prince  of  Aidzu  remained 
in  his  chair,  seemingly  incapable  of  motion. 
The  American  Perry  alone  preserved  his  com- 
posure, looking  from  one  to  the  other  in  a  puz- 
zled effort  to  determine  the  meaning  of  this  in- 
terruption. 


276 


f 


The  silence  within  the  hall  deepened  as  the 
startled  gaze  of  the  assemblage  continued 
fixed  upon  Jiro.  So  still  was  it  that  the  voices 
of  the  samurai  outside  seemed  annoyingly 
loud,  as  they  floated  into  the  quiet  apart- 
ment. 

There  was  a  long  moment  of  this  stunned, 
bewildered,  yet  intense  stillness.  It  was  bro- 
ken by  Toro,  who,  ashamed  of  having  been 
outdone  in  daring  by  his  slighter  companion, 
threw  himself  convulsively  'into  the  focus  of 
the  company. 

"Thou,  my  Lord  of  Catzu,"  he  shouted  — 
"thou  knowest  that  the  youth  speaks  truth. 
Banzai  the  Mikado!  Banzai  Nippon!" 

Another  sensational  moment!  The  samurai 
Genji  had  placed  himself  nearer  to  the  two. 

The  Lord  of  Catzu  broke  the  spell  of  won- 
derment. As  he  frowned  penetratingly  upon 
Toro  and  Jiro,  his  face  cleared  in  sudden  rec- 
ognition of  his  son.  He  raised  his  arm  in 
imperative  signal  to  the  samurai. 

"Eject  for  me  these  fanatics,"  he  cried, 
"and  guard  them  closely." 

Instantly  the  gigantic  Genji,  leaping 
through  the  opening,  laid  a  heavy  hand 
upon  the  shoulder  of  the  youth.  Back  to  the 
i  opening  he  drew  them. 

"They  are  in  my  custody,  my  lord,"  he 
answered. 

While  the  samurai  drew  the  struggling 
comrades  into  the  outer  air,  there  was  the 


277 


-y 


quick  hum  of  voices  over  the  assemblage  that 
a  moment  before  had  seemed  as  stone.  Neigh- 
bor conversed  with  neighbor,  the  Japanese 
in  consternation,  the  Americans  in  wonder. 

The  interpreter  rapidly  translated  to  the 
American  officer  the  words  that  had  passed 
between  the  commissioner  and  his  interrupters. 
Some  of  the  Americans  caught  at  the  drift  of 
events  even  before  their  comrades  sitting  near 
to  the  interpreter  understood  the  Dutchman's 
statements  to  their  commander. 

"  'Pears  to  me  to  be  something  to  this  two- 
king  business,"  said  a  marine  to  his  fellow. 

"  We'll  leave  our  bones  here,  sure  enough," 
was  the  pessimistic  response. 

"What  explanation  can  you  offer  of  this?" 
demanded  Perry. 

The  Lord  Catzu  lifted  his  eyebrows. 

"Explanation!  I  do  not  explain  it.  They 
were  fanatical  priests,  madmen,  who  thought 
that  the  head  of  the  church  should  take  over 
the  direction  of  the  state.  You  have  such  in 
your  own  country?" 

The  American  was  not  satisfied  with  this 
statement.  The  interpreter  informed  the  com- 
missioners of  this  fact.  Said  the  Lord  Catzu : 

"  If  you  do  not  believe  me,  I  shall,  with  the 
concurrence  of  my  colleague,  be  obliged  to  de- 
clare all  proceedings  estopped.  I  cannot  con- 
tinue under  such  circumstances." 

The  American  saw  thus  slipping  from  him 
the  rewards  of  the  labor  of  months.  He  might  ^ 

i    $4  Ji  .at-  X  ^ 

w  278 


THE  -WOOJNG  op  VflSTAPJ A     n 

_^^* — a..^-  -\~.  Tl  Qy 


be  making  a  mistake,  but  he  must  proceed  at 
once. 

"I  am  ready  to  continue/'  he  said. 

"Very  well.  You  may  deliver  your  letters 
to  the  Emperor  of  Japan/'  responded  Catzu, 
with  great  dignity. 

At  a  sign  from  Perry,  two  cabin-boys  who 
had  remained  in  the  ante-chamber  came  up 
the  central  aisle,  closely  followed  by  two  huge 
negroes  in  marine  dress.  The  boys  carried 
silver  and  gold  salvers,  upon  which  rested  the 
richly  set  gold  boxes  containing  the  docu- 
ments signed  by  Millard  Fillmore,  President 
of  the  United  States  of  America,  asking  con- 
sideration of  a  treaty  for  open  ports. 

As  the  boys  reached  the  red-lacquered  box 
at  the  head  of  the  hall  they  stood  upon  either 
side,  while  the  negroes  stopped  between  them. 
Lifting  the  letter  receptacles  from  the  salvers, 
the  negroes  deposited  them  in  the  red  chest 
indicated  by  an  aide  of  Catzu.  This  done, 
they  retreated  down  the  aisle. 

"All  is  now  done,"  said  Catzu.  "Permit 
me  to  inquire  when  your  excellency  will  re- 
turn for  an  answer." 

"In  some  months'  time,"  was  Perry's 
thoughtful  reply. 

"We  need  not  detain  you  longer,"  said  the 
commissioner.  "  Permit  us  to  express  our  grat- 
ification at  meeting  you  and  our  compliments 
for  your  courtesy." 

The  American  commodore  acknowledged  the 


279 


\MSTARJA 


deep  obeisance  with  which  the  commissioners 
and  their  staffs  now  favored  him  with  a  bow 
as  courtly  and  dignified  as  their  own. 

Then  foreigners  and  Japanese  filed  out  from 
the  Treaty  House  of  Yokohama. 


280 


TOE  - 


G  of  \MSTAFU  A     n 


ITH  the  fecundity  peculiar  to 
the  storm  and  stress  period  of  a 
nation's  history,  the  germ  al- 
most forcibly  implanted  into 
Japanese  soil  by  Commodore 
Perry  waxed  strong,  came  to 
blossom,  fell  into  seed,  and 
ended  by  multiplying  itself  into 
international  form.  No  sooner 
had  two  seaports  been  opened 
through  signature  of  the  treaty 
passed  by  Perry  than  the  Eng- 
lish sought  and  obtained  the 
same  privileges.  Other  nations 
followed  the  leaders  in  time- 
liness, differing  as  to  their 
national  equation.  Then  came 

fc          .  •gfr-  JC  if     — 

281 


4 


the  establishment  of  foreign  legations  and  the 
general  introduction  into  Japan  of  the  hated 
foreigners.  The  hermit  nation  was  no  more 
permitted  the  luxury  of  the  solitude  which 
had  made  it  internally  strong. 

But  now  the  foreigners  were  coming  to  un- 
derstand the  dual  state  of  Japanese  govern- 
ment. The  treaties  which  the  shogunate  had 
at  first  attempted  to  make  without  Imperial 
sanction  were  nominally  submitted  to  the 
Mikado.  In  a  measure,  the  brave  daring  of 
the  boy  Jiro  was  responsible  for  this  latter 
development. 

During  all  this  time  Mori  had  remained  in 
Yedo  watching  the  course  of  events,  and  the 
gradual  rise  in  prestige  of  the  already  power- 
ful shogunate. 

The  policy  advocated  by  Mori  was  the  same 
outlined  by  him  in  his  act  of  instruction  to 
Jiro  when  he  had  bade  the  boy  explain  to  the 
foreigners  the  true  conditions  of  government. 
The  shogunate  must  be  embroiled  with  the 
foreign  powers  in  such  a  way  that  retaliation 
of  the  world  powers  would  fall  upon  the  sho- 
gunate alone,  destroying  it,  while  at  a  leap 
the  Imperial  party  would  return  to  power 
upon  an  anti-Shogun  basis.  This  policy  he 
was  foremost  in  pressing  upon  other  lead- 
ers of  his  party,  but  without  avail.  The 
drift  of  events  was  too  uncertain  to  permit 
civil  war  at  this  time,  his  compatriots  asserted. 

Toro  and  Jiro  did  not  share  the  Yedo  vigil 


|: 


282 


TflE  DOPING  of  wmAPJA     n 

*t  jjr~  Cfr     "  3fc-_  \          31 

of  Mori.  When,  upon  the  evening  of  the 
Treaty  House  assemblage,  Genji  had  brought 
them  to  Keiki's  headquarters,  the  Prince  had 
received  them  as  from  the  grasp  of  death.  The 
task  he  had  set  them,  he  knew,  meant  a  risk 
of  death,  but  even  a  samurai  of  lesser  rank 
would  have  welcomed  a  death  decreed  by  the 
cause.  He  had  given  them  up  as  memories  of 
the  past  when  the  great  Genji  brought  them 
before  him. 

"My  prince,"  Genji  had  said,  "I  have  ever 
been  at  heart  one  of  your  party.  As  an  ear- 
nest of  my  desire  to  return  to  your  allegiance, 
I  bring  you  two  prisoners,  committed  to  my 
hands  by  the  Lord  of  Catzu." 

The  sight  of  the  samurai  Genji  had  called 
back  into  the  life  and  soul  of  Mori  things  he 
had  put  aside  as  unfitting  his  consecration  to 
the  cause.  Nevertheless,  he  received  him  glad- 
ly, and  made  no  objection  to  the  proposal  of 
the  samurai  that  he  should  be  permitted  to  go 
with  Toro  and  Jiro  to  the  Mori  fortress,  since 
longer  residence  in  Yedo  was  unsafe  for  the 
two  who  had  exhibited  themselves  before  the 
choice  gathering  of  the  Shogun's  followers  at 
the  Treaty  House.  So  it  was  that  for  a  time 
Mori  remained  alone  in  Yedo. 

The  continued  presence  in  the  Shogun's  city 
of  one  known  throughout  the  length  and 
breadth  of  the  land  as  the  Imperialist  leader 
could  not  in  the  nature  of  events  remain  un- 
known to  the  authorities.  On  several  oc- 


283 


casions  he  was  pressed  so  hard  that  he  found 
an  occasional  sojourn  outside  of  Yedo  im- 
perative. It  was  upon  his  return  from  one 
of  these  Sittings  that  the  Prince  Mori  found 
strange  news  awaiting  him. 

The  Shogun  lyesada  was  dead.  The  choice 
of  a  successor  devolving  upon  the  Regent  li,  a 
man  said  to  be  of  low  birth,  the  wishes  of  a  con- 
siderable number  of  the  shogunate  following 
had  been  ignored.  Kii,  a  boy  of  twelve,  had 
been  selected  by  the  Regent. 

To  make  a  show  of  boasted  power  before 
the  foreigners,  now  always  pressing  for  trea- 
ty privileges,  the  Regent  li  had  ratified  with 
them  a  treaty  then  pending,  afterwards  report- 
ing it  tardily  to  the  Emperor  at  Kioto. 

Instantly  the  city  rang  with  protest,  and, 
following  it,  the  country. 

"This  li  would  remain  alone  with  a  boy 
Shogun  1"  cried  the  nobles  of  both  parties. 

Mori  despatched  instantly  to  his  fortress 
couriers  who  conveyed  orders  to  Toro  that 
a  considerable  body  of  Mori's  troops  should 
proceed  at  once  to  Yedo.  Before  their  arrival, 
however,  a  crisis  had  been  reached. 

Ronins  in  great  numbers  had  visited  the  Im- 
perialist headquarters,  urging  instant  action.  \ 
These  roving  samurai,  having  renounced  all 
allegiance  to  their  own  lords,  had  become  free 
agents  (ronins),and  had  sworn  never  to  return 
to  their  homes  until  the  shogunate  was  over- 
thrown. 

y        *  1  •       •     ^ ^  "*^         $ 

284 


** 


TWE  .VJOQJNG  OF  NMSTAR)  A 


One  Hasuda  headed  a  party  that  sought  out 
the  Prince  Mori. 

"Let  every  foreign  legation  be  burned  this 
night,"  urged  Hasuda.  "Let  us  drive  into 
the  seas  those  dogs  who  already  have  de- 
layed our  action  too  long.  Let  it  be  done 
to-night." 

"No,"  said  Mori,  'firmly.  "  Do  not  let  your 
acts,  which  hitherto,  in  spite  of  their  lawless- 
ness, have  been  tinged  with  patriotism,  be 
tainted  by  such  action  as  you  now  propose. 
The  function  of  a  patriot  is  not  that  of  assas- 
sination, but  of  honest  warfare.  Be  coun- 
selled by  me.  Do  nothing  yet  awhile.  Wait! 
My  men  are  on  the  march.  They  cannot  ar- 
rive for  some  days.  When  they  have  come, 
and  when  our  Mikado  has  given  us  the  sig- 
nal, let  us  then  attack  and  expel  these  for- 
eign barbarians." 

"No,  no/'  insisted  Hasuda,  whose  sword 
itched  for  action;  "the  Mikado  is  influenced 
by  those  about  him  who  are  hostile  to  us.  He 
dare  not." 

"  Only  by  his  order  will  I  attack  the  foreign- 
ers," Mori  insisted. 

"He  will  not  speak,"  said  Hasuda. 

"  He  will,"  said  Mori.  "  I  have  assurances 
to  that  effect." 

Hasuda  altered  his  plea. 

"But,  your  highness,"  he  urged,  "what  I 
now  advocate  is  your  own  policy.  The  sho- 
gunate  is  responsible  to  the  foreigners  for  the 


285 


WISTARIA 


peace.  Destroy  their  legations  and  their  wrath 
will  descend  upon  the  shogunate." 

"  Listen ;  I  will  not  stoop  to  massacre,  but  I 
promise  you  that  upon  the  order  of  the  Em- 
peror I  will  fire  at  once  upon  their  fleets  and 
make  warfare  against  them." 

The  ronin  Hasuda  smiled  slyly,  as  with  a 
gesture  of  resignation  he  threw  his  arms  aside. 

"  Your  highness,"  he  said,  "  be  it  so.  I  con- 
sent, upon  one  condition.  Go  thou  to  Kio- 
to. Obtain  at  once  audience  with  the  Son 
of  Heaven.  Secure  his  consent.  Thou  hast 
means  within  the  palace  to  reach  him  safely. 
Do  so,  then.  I  will  await  your  return." 

"Agreed,"  answered  Mori. 

Within  a  few  moments  his  norimon  was 
carrying  him  out  of  Yedo. 

Two  ronins  joined  Hasuda  near  the  head- 
quarters half  an  hour  later. 

"Your  news?"  he  demanded. 

"The  Prince  of  Mori  is  on  the  highway  to 
Kioto." 

"Good!     Then  let  the  bands  separate." 

The  several  hundred  ronins,  divided  into 
parties  of  some  six  or  seven,  set  out  in  various 
directions.  Two  hours  later  they  were  in  the 
shadow  of  the  Sakurada  gate  of  the  Shogun's 
palace. 

A  spy  from  the  interior  made  his  report  to 
Hasuda.  It  was  accompanied  by  many  gest- 
ures directed  towards  the  wide  path  which  led 
through  the  garden  to  the  palace  within. 

=3T     k  ^  L- 3p—r 

286 


of?  <WJSTAR)A 


A  stately  procession  was  passing  down  the 
garden  path  and  had  taken  the  road.  It  was 
the  cortege  of  the  Baron  li  Kamon-no-Kami, 
the  hated  Regent  of  Japan.  Only  his  ordi- 
nary train  of  attendants  and  samurai  accom- 
panied him.  Absorbed  in  their  own  personal 
reflections,  they  were  apparently  without  sus- 
picion of  a  planned  assault. 

Hasuda,  in  the  shadow  of  the  gate  and  the 
farther  shadow  of  the  cedars  which  bent  their 
branches  over  the  walls,  raised  his  sword. 

"Now," he  whispered,  in  a  soft,  penetrating 
voice,  insistent  as  the  hiss  of  a  serpent.  From 
the  shadows  of  the  walls  against  which  they 
had  stood  ronins  leaped  upon  the  samurai  and 
attendants  about  the  norimon,  of  li.  These 
gave  way  instantly,  some  were  killed  outright, 
others  wounded,  while  still  others  were  left 
engaged  in  deadly  strife  with  ronin  adver- 
saries. 

"Quick!     Forward!"  urged  Hasuda. 

A  chosen  body  sp*rang  out  from  the  ronin 
ranks,  and  surrounding  the  norimon  of  the 
Regent,  drew  him  with  rough  hands  out  into 
the  road.  They  dragged  him  before  Hasu- 
da. Within  the  palace  a  cry  of  alarm  rang 
through  the  night,  followed  by  the  hurried 
mustering  of  troops. 

Outside  the  Sakurada  gate,  however,  the 
numerous  ronins,  showing  no  sign  of  fear, 
proceeded  leisurely.  li  had  fallen  upon  his 
knees.  His  mute  lips  moved  in  prayers  for  y, 

-ffi         f  -Jt.  &.  X  *T 

w  287 


of  \W5TAPJA 


mercy,  though  no  sound  escaped  them.  His 
lips  were  livid,  his  eyes  glazed. 

At  what  seemed  this  manifestation  of  cow- 
ardice the  ronins,  outlawed  samurai  as  they 
were,  laughed  scornfully.  They  would  have 
died  unflinchingly.  li  was  not  of  samurai 
blood. 

"Death  to  the  traitor!"  roared  a  ronin 
chorus. 

"Ay,"  replied  Hasuda— "death!"  Then  to 
the  Regent :  "  li,  thou  art  a  traitor.  Rise  and 
receive  sentence." 

li  seemed  paralyzed  with  fear. 

"Let  him  die,"  said  Hasuda. 

"Let  him  die,"  growled  the  ronins. 

Hasuda  sent  a  keen  glance  over  his  ranks. 
He  said,  quickly : 

"Let  a  samurai  volunteer  as  executioner, 
but  let  him  remember  that  he,  too,  must  die, 
that  no  Shogun  follower  may  punish  him." 

A  grim,  middle-aged  ronin  pushed  forward. 

"I  was  of  Satsuma,"  he  said;  "that  is  all 
you  need  know  of  me." 

"Do  thy  office,"  commanded  Hasuda. 

The  samurai  thereupon  forced  the  Regent 
to  his  knees,  where  he  cringed  trembling  and 
shivering.  The  sword  of  the  samurai  hissed, 
curved,  shone,  shot  through  the  air.  The  head 
of  li  lay  upon  the  ground. 

Hasuda  then  spoke: 

"  That  no  malice  may  be  imputed  to  us,  use 
thy  second  sword." 


•»  288 


f 


THE  JWOQJNG  QF  WJSTAR)A     n 


Without  a  word  the  Satsuma  samurai  drew 
his  second  sword  from  his  belt.  The  hilt  he 
rested  upon  the  ground.  In  an  instant  he  fell 
upon  its  point. 

The  ronins  left  the  vicinity  of  the  palace, 
carrying  the  head  of  li  with  them.  This  they 
nailed  to  a  post  in  a  public  place  of  the  city. 

In  a  short  time,  from  the  newly  established 
foreign  quarter  of  Yedo,  flames  leaped  forth  in 
destruction  of  the  legations.  Many  foreigners 
found  Japanese  graves  that  night. 

Yet,  strange  inconsistency!  the  ronins,  still 
under  the  direction  of  Hasuda,  went  about 
everywhere,  crying :  "  Down  with  the  foreign- 
ers! Long  live  the  Shogun!" 

Those  foreigners  who  escaped  believed  that 
the  Shogun  had  ordered  the  night's  horrors. 

At  the  hour  of  dawn  Hasuda  wiped  his  sword 
on  a  foreign  fabric.  As  the  morning  breezes 
from  the  bay  cooled  his  tired  brow  he  laughed 
grimly. 

"  Ah,"  he  exclaimed,  "  what  the  noble  Prince 
of  Mori  could  not  countenance  himself  has 
been  accomplished;  and,  being  accomplished, 
I  shall  find  in  him  no  open  friend,  it  is  true, 
but  no  sworn  enemy." 

The  roar  of  guns  came  faintly  to  his  ears. 

"To-morrow — to-morrow!"  he  mused,  with 
a  chuckle.  "  Nay,  to-day,  the  wrath  of  the  for- 
eigners will  descend  upon  the  shogunate — the 
innocent  shogunate.  Decidedly,  it  is  droll. " 


289 


*•  "ff 


T  was  night  when  the  runners 
of  the  Prince  Mori's  norimon, 
having  travelled  the  highway 
to  its  gated  termination,  en- 
tered Kioto.  Uncertain  as  to  his 
exact  course,  the  Prince  was 
settled  upon  one  thing — haste 
— haste  to  arrive  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  the  Mikado's  pal- 
ace, that  he  might  plan  in  the 
shadows  his  future  actions. 

He  had  passed  through  the 
city's  gates,  and  with  new  cries 
to  his  runners  was  again  urging 
them  forward,  when  a  cloaked 
figure,  holding  in  one  hand  a 
naked  sword,  barred  to  the 

IT  . .   £-.       .  <-  Jl      .     Hj£ 

290 


JL, 


norimon  farther  passage.  The  runners  stop- 
ped abruptly.  Impatiently  Mori  thrust  his 
head  through  the  curtains. 

"What  now,  you  laggards?"  he  demanded, 
in  no  gentle  voice. 

At  the  sound  of  Mori's  words  the  man  in  the 
roadway  uttered  a  cry  of  surprise. 

"Thou,  Mori!" 

"  What  then?"  inquired  the  Prince,  defiantly, 
preparing  to  leap  to  the  ground,  sword  in  hand. 

"It  is  I,  Echizen.  I  will  join  you  in  your 
norimon." 

"  Good ! "  said  Mori.  "  Urgently  I  need  your 
advice." 

Echizen  climbed  into  the  vehicle  quickly. 
With  a  swift  movement  he  drew  Mori's  cloak 
about  'his  shoulders  in  such  a  way  that  it  hid 
his  face. 

"  There  is  danger  in  Kioto  for  you,"  he  said. 
"Just  now  as  I  passed,  the  sound  of  your 
voice  instructing  your  runners  struck  me  with 
its  familiar  tones.  When  you  raised  your 
voice  I  recognized  you  immediately.  You 
must  be  more  careful,  my  lord." 

"Why  should  there  be  danger  for  me  in 
Kioto?"  inquired  Keiki,  quickly.  "I  am  in 
my  Emperor's  capital  now."  ^ 

"But  the  massacres  you  have  just  instigated 
in  Yedo  are  being  used  to  your  disadvantage. 
Aidzu  has  come  to  Kioto  two  hours  ahead  of 
you,  and  all  is  known  to  his  Majesty." 

"Massacres!" 

=3L.~         JU.  ...    -   «£  L T     .. 

291 


VflSTAPJA 


"Are  you  ignorant  of  them?" 

"You  do  not  mean — "  Keiki  paused,  a 
suspicion  of  Hasuda  dawning  upon  him. 
"Massacres  by  the  ronins?" 

"Yes." 

The  Prince  of  Mori  groaned. 

"Hasuda,  the  chief  ronin,"  he  said,  "has 
broken  his  pledged  word  to  me."  He  ex- 
plained briefly  to  Echizen  his  compact  with 
Hasuda. 

The  Prince  of  Echizen  had  received  a  courier 
who  came  on  horseback  but  half  an  hour  prior 
to  Mori's  arrival.  He  came  shortly  after  the 
arrival  of  Aidzu,  who  was  closeted  with  the 
Emperor.  The  courier's  only  definite  news 
was  that  the  Regent  li  had  been  assassinated 
and  the  foreign  legations  burned  by  a  band 
of  ronins  under  Hasuda,  acting,  it  was  be- 
lieved, under  Mori's  orders.  The  ronins  had 
pretended  to  be  the  Shogun's  men. 

The  latter  information  pleased  Mori. 

"Goodl"  he  said;  "the  foreigners  will  lay 
the  blame  upon  the  shogunate." 

Echizen  leaned  from  the  norimon. 

"Proceed  slowly,"  he  told  the  runner,  "in 
that  direction,"  pointing  to  a  quarter  of  the 
town  distant  from  the  Imperial  palace. 

"We  must  adopt  some  plan  of  action,"  he 
continued  to  Keiki.  "  These  outbreaks,  which 
I  at  first  thought  were  at  your  order,  will  have 
fearful  consequences.  We  must  plan  to  turn 
them  to  account  with  the  Emperor. 


fi 


292 


„     Tfl£  *WOPjnG  QJF  \W5TAPJA     r 


"But  he  already  knows  of  the  massacres." 

"  Assuredly.  Aidzu  is  governor  of  the  city, 
and  a  person  of  influence  with  him.  He  will 
use  the  Yedo  massacres  to  your  disadvantage." 

"But  Aidzu  is  a  shogunate." 

"True;  but  lately  he  has  gone  over  to  the 
Emperor.  He  is  still  at  heart  a  shogunate. 
It  is  by  the  order  of  the  Shogun  that  he  has 
come  to  the  Mikado's  court,  in  fact.  He  is  both 
a  spy  and  an  influence  upon  the  Emperor  for 
the  shogunate." 

"How  do  you  know  all  these  things?"  in- 
quired Keiki. 

"Since  I  left  you  in  Yedo,"  replied  Echizen, 
"I  have  made  considerable  progress  in  the 
favor  of  the  Emperor,  all  for  the  sake  of  the 
cause.  I  try  to  set  myself  against  Aidzu." 

"Well,  and  what  is  the  disposition  of  the 
Emperor  towards  my  wing  of  the  party?  What 
does  he  desire  us  to  do?  What  attitude  should 
we  take  towards  the  foreigners  and  the  sho- 
gunate at  this  time?  I  have  a  purpose  in  these 
questions." 

Echizen  looked  thoughtfully  towards  the 
east,  where  the  offshoots  of  the  still  distant 
day  were  charging  the  rear-guard  of  night. 

"My  prince,"  he  said,  slowly,  "I  feel  that 
this  day  will  be  a  decisive  one  in  our  annals. 
I  feel  that  there  is  a  great  opportunity  to  be 
born  a  new  nation  to-day." 

"Speak  on,"  said  Mori. 

"  The  Emperor  Kommei  is,  of  course,  desir-    ^ 


i  —  ^ 


293 


Ttf  E  .WoojNG  op  VflSTAPJA     n 

~  ^ 


ous  of  regaining  the  power  once  held  by  his 
ancestors.  He  knows,  as  an  educated  man, 
that  the  shogunate  has  no  legitimate  right  to 
existence.  But  he  is  a  man  of  two  natures. 
Fear,  which  is  not  cowardice,  and  suspicion, 
which  is  not  discretion,  is  his  ruling  motive. 
He  is  surrounded  by  shogunate  spies.  Every 
effort  he  has  made  up  to  this  time  to  com- 
municate with  us  has  been  frustrated.  Were 
he  to  put  trust  in  a  samurai  and  think  of 
sending  him  as  a  messenger  to  us,  the  sho- 
gunate straightway  removed  that  samurai." 

"By  the  sword,  of  course." 

"By  secret  means.  In  time  the  Emperor 
Kommei  came  to  believe  that  the  shogunate 
held  his  life  in  its  hands,  as  it  has.  He  came 
to  distrust  all  men.  He  trusts  neither  Aidzu, 
his  enemy,  nor  me,  his  friend." 

"What  of  the  foreigners?" 

"I  believe  that  he  would  desire  above  all 
things  to  issue  an  order  for  their  expulsion, 
and  encourage  us.  secretly  to  make  war  upon 
the  shogunate,  convinced  as  he  is  that  his 
life  and  the  very  office  of  Emperor  are  at  stake. " 

"Could  he  be  brought  to  give  us  secret  in- 
structions?" 

"He  might,"  returned  Echizen,  dubiously, 
"  but  such  is  the  temper  of  the  man  that,  while 
bidding  us  make  war  upon  the  shogunate,  he 
would  also  warn  us  that  if  the  shogunate 
prevailed  he  could  do  nothing  for  us — he 
would  leave  us  to  die." 

—^          •     — * L-^=ac==*: 

294  B 


7)^E  .V/v%rJi  ivj  ^j  *  vvj-o  j/*\j\»jjet     F 

-& —    .        %•          . .       3i- —  •%•  ml        73 

With  knotted  brows,  Mori  considered  long. 
Then: 

"You  think  Aidzu  is  endeavoring  at  this 
moment  to  discredit  me  with  the  Emperor  by 
laying  responsibility  for  Hasuda  at  my  door?" 

"Yes,  this  very  instant." 

Mori  leaned  out  from  the  norimon  and  signed 
to  the  runners.  They  halted. 

"One  question  more,"  he  said  to  Echizen. 
"  Have  you  convenient  access  to  the  Emperor?" 

"At  any  hour,"  Echizen  answered.  Mori 
bent  towards  the  runners. 

"Full  speed,"  he  cried,  "to  the  Emperor's 
palace." 

The  norimon  started  ahead. 

"To  the  Emperor's  palace?"  repeated 
Echizen.  "What  are  you  going  to  do?" 

"  To  confront  Aidzu,  my  accuser,  and  urge 
the  Emperor  to  expel  the  foreigners,"  said 
Mori. 

"Perhaps  it  is  the  best  course,"  answered 
Echizen,  slowly. 

"It  is  the  opportunity  of  which  you  spoke," 
said  Mori.  "  The  opportunity  for  which  I  have 
long  waited." 


i 


29S 


VflSTARJA 


HE  group  of  buildings  set  with- 
in the  walled  enclosure  known 
as  the  Emperor's  palace  was 
not  surrounded  as  were  many 
feudal  castles  of  the  daimios, 
and  indeed  other  of  the  Imperial 
residences,  by  a  deep  moat  of 
stagnant  water.  The  poetic 
temperament  of  a  people  who 
had  returned  to  the  pure  Shinto 
religion,  which  made  Japan  a 
land  of  gods  whose  chief  was  the 
Emperor,  would  not  permit  the 
Kioto  palace  to  resemble  a  for- 
tress. It  seemed  rather  a  temple, 
in  the  atmosphere  created  in  out- 
side eyes  by  its  carved  exterior. 


296 


X 


VJSTAPJA 


'  The  whole  interior  grounds,  in  which  were 
the  residence  buildings,  were  separated  from 
the  city  streets  only  by  a  heavy  wall,  rectan- 
gular in  its  completed  course.  Within,  the 
foliage,  set  back  from  the  street,  rose  high 
above  the  walls,  intermingled  with  an  oc- 
casional roof-top. 

The  wall  was  entered  at  intervals  by  guard- 
ed gates,  whose  porticos  protruded  into  the 
street.  Set  out  into  the  street,  upon  a  broad 
stone  platform,  approached  by  a  multitude  of 
tiny  steps,  were  two  tall  pillars,  about  each  of 
which  twined,  carved  in  the  material  itself,  a 
scaly  serpent.  Above  the  serpent,  in  a  carved 
galaxy  of  death,  were  the  claws,  heads,  and 
bones  of  wild  beasts.  Between  the  pillars  and 
the  edge  of  the  wall,  and  forming  the  sides  of 
the  portico,  were  two  square,  wooden  panels, 
upon  which  were  carved  dragons,  trumpets, 
and  the  long  -curved,  bodied  stork.  Resting 
upon  the  top  of  the  carved  pillars  and  extend- 
ing over  the  wall  was  the  sinuous  roof,  each 
of  whose  lines  seemed  a  snake  curled  in  its 
tortuous  travel  path. 

The  roof,  made  of  highly  polished  bamboo, 
but  preserving  its  natural  form,  the  little  logs 
being  laid  side  by  side,  swept  up  to  a  curling 
point.  Over  the  portico  entrance  of  the  gates, 
two  carved,  hideously  grim  faces  leered  into 
the  faces  of  any  descending  the  steps.  Still 
higher  up,  under  the  shadow  of  the  gabled 
roof,  was  the  portrait  of  the  Emperor. 


The  buildings  within,  set  in  their  garden^ 
and  pleasure  grounds,  had  in  their  roof  lines 
the  appearance  of  the  gates.  They  were  of 
two  or  three  stories,  over  each  of  which  a  ga- 
bled, curiously  wrought  shelf  projected  from 
the  sides,  as  a  shield  from  the  weather.  The 
windows,  small  and  narrow,  were  set  together 
in  pairs.  In  the  centre  of  each  long  side  on 
the  lower  floor  a  projecting  angle,  covered  by  a 
triangular  roof,  made  a  sort  of  bay-window. 
Sliding  screens  gave  admittance  to  the  rooms 
within. 

Before  the  carved  gate  in  the  eastern  wall 
the  norimon  that  had  brought  the  Prince  of 
Mori  from  Yedo  discharged  its  passengers. 
Echizen  and  Mori  passed  into  the  interior. 
Once  within,  Mori,  who  had  approached  the 
structure  with  the  feelings  of  a  devout  Japan- 
ese, saw  that  the  buildings  were  set  closely 
together,  making  an  inner  rectangular  court, 
in  whose  exact  centre  a  house  more  pretentious 
than  its  neighbors  stood.  This  he  took  to  be 
the  residence  of  Kommei  Tenno,  the  Mikado. 

To  his  surprise,  Echizen  directed  his  way 
towards  a  small  edifice  set  quite  without  the 
quadrangle,  and  of  a  style  more  simple  and 
humble  than  any  within  the  grounds. 

"Why  are  we  going  this  way?"  Mori  asked. 
"The  Mikado  must  reside  there,"  indicating 
the  house  within  the  rectangular  circle. 

"  He  should  live  there,  it  is  true,  for  that  is 
the  official  residence  of  his  Majesty ;  but  being 


298 


WJSTAPJA 


a  suspicious  man,  he  lives  in  the  house  least 
suited  to  be  his  residence,"  returned  Echizen. 

As  if  in  keeping  with  the  supposed  incognito 
character  of  the  house,  there  were  no  guards 
before  it,  while  the  front  of  the  official  resi- 
dence was  crowded  with  sword-wearers. 

At  the  threshold  Mori  paused. 

"Come,"  said  Echizen. 

"  But  a  moment,"  Mori  said,  in  a  low  tone 
whose  last  sound  died  away  in  a  note  of  sad, 
prophetic  fear. 

He  raised  his  eyes  to  the  trees  leafing  in 
the  enclosure,  and  then  to  the  skies.  The 
night  mists  had  passed  away,  it  is  true,  from 
the  sight,  but  there  was  in  the  air  a  moistness 
which  the  feebly  awakened  sun-rays  had  not 
yet  dissipated.  A  tear  of  expectation  stood 
in  nature's  eye.  Calm  and  peaceful  the  day 
was  dawning,  without  a  sound  to  ruffle  the 
gentle  awakening  of  drowsy  nature.  The 
purple  -  yellow  tints  crept  up  from  beyond  the 
horizon,  touching  the  tops  of  trees  and  build- 
ings in  soft  sign  of  a  later  imperative  sign  of 
action. 

Mori  bared  his  head.  As  he  stood  there, 
the  longing  of  the  patriotic  soul  surging 
through  his  body  until  his  hands  tingled  to  do 
noble  deeds,  the  winds  gently  laved  his  brow 
in  the  cooling  of  unalterable  nature.  Mori 
was  praying  to  his  gods,  for  his  country,  to 
the  war-god  if  need  be,  and  to  Kwannon,  the 
goddess  of  mercy. 

j  i.  __^_— 1 3T= 

299 


TtfE  .WOOJNG  ojf?  WJSTAPJ A 


Then,  at  the  kiss  of  the  wind,  a  mood,  a 
thought,  a  picture  came  to  Mori,  overwhelm- 
ing in  its  potency.  The  Lady  Wistaria !  The 
Lady  Wistaria!  Her  name  seemed  to  sing  in 
his  brain.  In  a  flash  of  thought  he  realized 
that,  however  fierce  the  action,  however  great 
the  striving,  however  complete  the  attainment, 
there  was  no  joy  in  life  or  death  ever  for  him. 
"The  calm  of  accomplishment  meant  the  wreck 
of  hope. 

With  a  fierce  attack  upon  this  memory, 
Mori  drove  his  faculties  back  to  their  duty. 

"I  am  ready,"  he  said. 

The  two  passed  within. 

A  sort  of  confidential  valet  stopped  them  in 
the  ante-chamber.  He  said: 

"  The  Serene  Son  of  Heaven  is  closeted  with 
my  Lord  of  Aidzu." 

He  turned,  indicating  a  closed  door. 

"You  see,"  whispered  Echizen,  when  the 
servant's  back  was  turned — "you  see  they 
have  lost  no  time." 

Then  to  the  servant: 

"  You  may  announce  to  his  Majesty  that  it 
is  I,  the  Prince  of  Echizen." 

As  the  servant  disappeared  behind  the  door, 
Mori,  on  whose  brow  a  slight  contraction  had 
come,  seizing  Echizen  roughly  by  the  arm, 
forced  him  into  the  chamber  beyond,  the  secret 
resort  of  the  Emperor  Kommei  Tenno. 

At  the  noise  of  their  entrance  the  slight  man 
who  had  been  pacing  up  and  down  the  cham- 


300 


TOE  -WQOJNG  Oj?  vflSTAR) A     n 

:»  3E-  4= =fr  I        j 

her  turned  in  nervous  apprehension,  his  hand 
seeking  uncertainly  the  naked  dagger  at  his 
waist.  The  Prince  Aidzu  maintained  the  posi- 
tion assumed  by  him  earlier  in  the  interrupted 
interview.  He  was  standing  easily  in  an  at- 
titude of  apparent  assurance.  An  evil  smile, 
meant  for  Echizen,  played  over  his  features 
as  he  regarded  the  future  premier  and  his 
present  rival,  for  the  disconcerting  smile  of 
my  Lord  Aidzu  was  a  trick  usual  with  him 
whenever  an  enemy  surprised  him  with  his 
master.  It  was  meant  to  convey  to  an  in- 
truder intimation  of  an  understanding  which 
might  not  have  been  reached  prior  to  the  in- 
terruption. Echizen  met  it  with  the  greatest 
indifference. 

For  the  first  time  in  his  short  period  of  vigor- 
ous effort  in  behalf  of  his  Mikado,  Mori  stood 
in  the  presence  of  the  man  who  was  the  focus 
and  culmination,  the  terminal  point,  of  his  most 
honored  principle.  He  saw  a  slight  form 
which  could  not  be  the  bodily  temple  of  the 
vitality  of  genius.  It  was  that  of  a  man 
scarcely  beyond  the  thirties,  yet  there  was  no 
promise  of  the  developing  years.  The  feat- 
ures, however,  were  delicately  modelled,  the 
turn  of  the  ankles  and  hands  were  exquisite. 
About  the  whole  manifest  personality  of  the 
man  there  was  the  subtle  stamp  of  effeminacy. 
The  hand,  the  intelligence  within  the  eye- 
neither  gave  hint  of  action.  The  brain  could 
not  conceive,  the  hand  could  not  execute. 


TOE  JWO.OJNG  °f  MWSTARJ  A 


"Poor  lost,  poor  betrayed  cause  of  Japan," 
would  have  been  the  formulation  of  Mori's 
conclusion  as  these  details,  tempered  by  re- 
flection, came  to  him. 

Then  there  passed  through  his  mind  from 
the  little,  hidden  house  of  memory  all  those 
tales  he  had  heard  whispered  in  secret.  The 
Shogun  had  bred  the  Emperor  in  indolence, 
in  effeminate  luxury,  so  that  the  war  lord  of 
the  Mikado  might  overwhelm  his  master  in 
the  dwarfing  shadow  of  real  attainment. 
There  was  no  hope  in  this  man.  Yet  the 
principle  was  greater  than  the  man,  and  it 
was  a  violation  of  the  principle  that  had  in- 
gulfed the  man. 

These  thoughts  passed  rapidly  through 
Mori's  mind  as  he  prostrated  himself  before 
the  Mikado. 

"  Oh,  it  is  you,  Echizen."  The  voice,  small, 
without  interest,  broke  upon  Mori.  "Whom 
have  you  there  with  you?" 

"Your  highness,"  answered  Echizen,  with 
every  token  of  the  deepest  respect,  "I  beg  to 
present  to  you  Keiki,  the  Prince  of  Mori." 

Mori,  who  was  still  on  his  knees,  touched 
the  floor  with  his  head,  and  remained  for  a 
moment  in  this  humble  attitude  before  his 
sovereign.  When  he  raised  his  head  and  look- 
ed towards  the  Mikado  he  perceived  at  once  that 
he  was  frowning,  while  he  made  a  peculiar 
movement  of  understanding  in  Aidzu's  direc- 
tion, perceiving  which  the  latter  shrugged  his 


** 


302 


*& 


shoulders.  Then,  with  the  decisive  cutting 
of  nervous  fear,  the  voice  of  the  Mikado  broke 
the  gap  of  silence. 

"We  were  speaking  of  you  just  now,  Prince 
of  Mori,"  he  said,  with  a  sinister  note  in  his 
voice. 

The  evil  smile  again  crossed  Aidzu's  coun- 
tenance. 


303 


6=$ 


OR  a  moment  there  was  con- 
sternation in  the  breasts  of  the 
two  men,  Mori  and  Echizen, 
while  the  baleful  personality  of 
Aidzu,  seeming  to  expand  on 
wings  of  hate,  diffused  itself 
throughout  the  room. 

Mori  answered  before  Echizen 
could  interject  a  word. 

"You  honored  me  by  your 
attention,  your  Majesty,"  he 
said,  while  still  upon  his  knees. 

"  Say  rather  dishonored/'  said 
Aidzu  under  his  breath. 

"Mori,"  said  the  Mikado, 
with  an  effort  at  great  stern- 
ness, "you  have  dared  to  mur- 


TflE»WOQJMG  Of*  \fl5TAPJA     n 

der  the  Regent  li,  to  burn  the  treaty  houses 
and  legations  of  the  foreigners.  What  have 
you  to  say  for  yourself?" 

"Oh,  your  Majesty  1"  was  all  Mori  could 
exclaim,  between  his  desire  to  retain  his  re- 
spectful attitude  and  his  impulse  to  protest 
against  such  injustice  from  the  one  for  whom 
he  had  labored  long. 

"No  doubt,"  continued  the  Mikado,  "you 
have  come  to  me  thinking  I  shall  countenance 
such  an  act,  and  to  ask  for  protection  and 
mercy?" 

Mori  sprang  to  his  feet.  Every  nerve  in 
him  was  tingling  and  quivering.  He  heeded 
not  the  traditional  etiquette  to  be  observed 
before  the  Son  of  Heaven,  whereby  no  man 
must  look  the  Mikado  in  the  face.  Mori  was 
of  princely  blood  himself,  and  of  a  lineage  as 
proud  and  old  as  his  master's.  So  his  own 
eyes,  keen  and  true  as  those  of  a  brave  and 
innocent  man,  met  the  shifting  glance  of 
Kommei  Tenno. 

"Nay,  your  Majesty;  I  come  not  to  ask  for 
mercy,  but  for  justice." 

"Justice?" 

"Ay,  your  Majesty." 

"But  you  have  committed  these  atrocious 
crimes,"  said  the  Mikado,  his  glance  wander- 
ing uneasily  from  Aidzu  to  Mori,  "and  these 
crimes  will  bring  upon  us  the  vengeance  of 
these  foreign  peoples." 

"I  have  committed  no  crimes,  your  Maj- 


305 


THE  *W©0)NG  QF  N*STARIA     n 

-.   ,  -~- ^^  ~*ir  V  "ml* 

_4fc VK- £,1 Jfc — I 

esty.  I  am  innocent  of  that  of  which  you 
accuse  me." 

Echizen  interrupted  quietly. 

"Your  Majesty,  I  do  assure  you  that  the 
Prince  Mori  is  guiltless." 

Kommei  turned  rapidly  to  the  speaker. 

"You  can  explain,  Echizen?" 

"I  can." 

"Proofs  are  many,"  said  Aidzu,  thrusting 
his  head  forward,  "that  this  young  man  in- 
cited the  outrages." 

Again  forgetting  himself,  the  sensitive  and 
impulsive  Mori  leaped  towards  the  speaker. 

"You  lie!"  he  thundered.  Then  recalling 
himself,  he  turned  towards  the  Mikado. 

"I  crave  your  Majesty's  pardon,  but" — his 
voice  trembled  in  spite  of  him — "that  worm 
lies." 

The  Emperor  stared  from  Aidzu  to  Mori, 
then  back  to  Echizen. 

"You  are  prepared  to  report  concerning 
this?" 

"I  am,  your  Majesty,"  answered  Echizen. 

"Proceed." 

The  Prince  of  Echizen  indicated  the  gov- 
ernor of  the  city  with  a  slight  toss  of  his 
head. 

"Privily,  your  Majesty,  I  beg,"  he  said. 

Kommei  hesitated.  He  seemed  to  be  study- 
ing Echizen's  face.  If  read  correctly,  he  saw 
written  there  so  much  determination,  so  much 
loyalty  and  faith  and  truth,  that  its  very  ex- 


306 


f 


pression  communicated  to  him  some  of  its 
lofty  strength  and  resolve. 

"  My  Lord  of  Aidzu  will  withdraw/'  he  said, 
quietly. 

"But,  your  Majesty — "  began  Aidzu. 

The  first  expression  of  imperial  command 
came  into  Kommei  Tenno's  face.  His  head 
elevated  itself,  his  eyes  enlarged  and  became 
purple  with  haughty  command. 

"I  have  spoken,"  he  said. 

Instantly  Aidzu  bowed  deeply,  but  into  his 
face  there  crept  a  malignant  expression.  He 
then  withdrew  from  the  chamber.  When  he 
was  gone,  the  Emperor  made  a  dignified  gest- 
ure of  permission  to  Echizen. 

"Sire,  this  young  Prince  Mori  has  devoted 
his  life  to  your  cause,  as  have  I,"  he  said,  in 
a  low  but  passionate  voice. 

"  Hush!  not  so  loud,"  said  the  Emperor,  with 
a  slight  shiver.  "Wait." 

With  quick  footsteps  he  crossed  to  the  door 
and  flung  it  violently  aside.  There  was  none 
without. 

"Proceed,"  he  said,  almost  in  a  whisper. 

Echizen  lowered  his  voice  still  more. 

"  Sire,  the  Prince  of  Mori  did  not  incite  these 
massacres,  but  protested  strongly  against 

them." 

"The  proofs!    Quick— the  proofs!" 
Echizen  quietly  withdrew  his  sword  from  his 

belt.     Its  point  he  applied  to  his  own  breast. 

Upon  his  knees  he  offered  its  hilt  to  his  master. 


Qp  VftSTARIA 


"Sire,  my  life  is  at  your  service,  now  as 
ever,"  he  said. 

The  Emperor  bent  upon  him  a  gaze  that  in 
a  man  of  genius  would  have  shown  his  soul. 

"  I  believe  you,"  he  muttered.  Then  to  him- 
self :  "  Whom  may  I,  of  a  truth,  believe — whom 
may  I  trust?" 

The  Prince  of  Echizen,  regaining  his  feet, 
continued : 

"  These  massacres  were  the  work  of  a  ronin 
— Hasuda — who  is  all  for  the  cause,  although 
an  unauthorized  agent.  By  this  deed,  how- 
ever, he  and  his  men  will  aid  the  cause." 

"How?" 

"They  will  embroil  the  shogunate  with  the 
powers — the  shogunate,  which  is  responsible 
to  the  foreigners  for  the  peace." 

"  But  the  shogunate  had  naught  to  do  with 
these  burnings  and  killings." 

"True,"  said  Echizen,  smiling  slightly, 
"  but  think  you  that  the  silly  foreigner  is  pos- 
sessed with  your  penetration,  sire?  At  the 
burning  of  the  foreign  houses  the  ronins  cried 
in  the  name  of  the  shogunate." 

"A  stroke,  truly,"  said  the  Emperor, 
thoughtfully. 

And  having  dared  this  observation  the  cau- 
tious Emperor  hastened  to  qualifications. 

"That  is,"  he  began,  "that  is—"  Then, 
remembering  the  presence  of  Mori,  "What  is 
his  errand?"  he  asked. 

Mori  stepped  forward.     His  head  was  thrown 

rc 

?         -t &==n         x. — ^£ 

308  B 


WJSTAPJA     n 


back.  The  Shining  Prince  had  forgotten 
again  that  he  was  in  the  presence  of  the 
Mikado. 

"I  have  come  to  urge  a  national  necessity 
upon  your  Majesty,"  he  said. 

"What  is  that?" 

"To  urge  your  Majesty  to  give  an  order 
for  the  expulsion  of  all  foreigners  within  your 
empire." 

"What!"  exclaimed  the  startled  Emperor. 

Fervently  Mori  continued: 

"  The  presence  of  these  foreigners  makes  the 
re  -  establishment  of  your  Majesty  in  your 
proper  position  impossible.  They  distract  the 
Imperialists  from  their  purpose.  Fear,  or, 
rather,  uncertainty,  in  regard  to  them  causes 
the  Imperialists  to  hesitate  in  attacking  the 
shogunate  and  forcing  civil  war  upon  the 
country  while  these  foreigners  are  upon  the 
soil.  They  have  multiplied  in  such  numbers 
lately  that  all  over  the  country  the  people  pro- 
test against  the  privileges  granted  to  them  by 
the  shogunate." 

"This  sounds  logical,"  said  the  Emperor, 
half  to  himself. 

"Your  Majesty,  permit  me  to  suggest  that 
the  wrath  of  the  foreigners,  through  the  recent 
acts  in  Yedo,  will  fall  upon  the  shogunate. 
This  is  well  for  us.  We  must  take  advantage 
of  these  very  acts  of  the  ronins.  Let  us  follow 
them  up  by  expelling  the  foreigner.  If  thou 
wilt  but  issue  such  a  command,  a  united  coun- 

—4  T  Tfc I  3*-= 

309 


TflE  . 


try  will  back  you.  The  shogunate  will  fight 
because  it  must,  while  we  will  do  so  for  our 
cause  and  our  homes.  Then,  the  foreigner 
expelled,  thou,  sire,  thou  and  the  weakened 
shogunate  may  reckon  together." 

Eagerly  Kommei  listened  to  the  Prince's 
words  —  eagerly,  and  with  his  eyes  fastened 
upon  Mori's  face.  Down  dropped  his  head 
in  thought. 

Echizen,  seizing  the  opportunity,  seconded 
Mori's  appeal. 

"Sire,"  he  exclaimed,  "the  shogunate  must 
fall  through  the  foreigner.  It  cannot  rest 
upon  the  people.  Already  is  it  weakened. 
Only  give  the  command  to  expel  the  foreigner 
and  we  will  drive  him  into  the  seas.  He  will 
attack  the  shogunate,  and  that  once  van- 
quished, thou  wilt  reign  and  make  peace, 
perhaps  friendship,  with  these  foreigners." 

Still  the  weakened  Emperor  hesitated. 

"I  see  clearly  the  results  you  foreshadow," 
he  said,  "but  if  any  detail  were  to  mis- 
carry —  "  He  shrugged  his  shoulders  and 
shivered. 

There  was  a  sound  at  the  door.  The  con- 
fidential valet  appeared. 

"What  is  it?"  demanded  the  Emperor,  im- 
patiently. 

"Your  Majesty,"  -said  the  valet,  kneeling, 
"the  Shogun  Kii,  accompanied  by  the  Lord 
of  Catzu,  has  entered  the  palace  and  craves 
audience  of  your  Majesty." 

£-$-     '   4      '"       I  -  &  X  vT= 

310 


THE  BOOING  of  \WSTAPJA     n 


The  valet  backed  from  the  room,  drawing 
the  sliding  doors  behind  him. 

Mori  drew  near  to  his  sovereign  until  his 
burning  eyes  held  Kommei  in  an  embrace  of 
enthusiasm. 

"See — see,  sire,"  he  said,  slowly,  strongly, 
so  that  every  syllable  tore  its  way  to  the  un- 
derstanding of  the  Mikado  —  "see,  the  sho- 
gunate  is  already  weakened.  It  comes  creep- 
ing to  Kioto  to  give  that  nominal  submission 
to  your  Majesty  ordained  by  custom  to  be  paid 
once  a  year,  but  deferred  up  to  this  day  for 
just  two  hundred  and  thirty  years.  Already 
the  shogunate,  needing  your  divine  support, 
crawls.  Crush  it,  sire — crush  it!" 

To  Echizen  the  diplomat,  this  new  develop- 
ment in  the  situation  had  unfolded  itself  with 
intuitive  rapidity. 

"  Sire,"  said  Echizen,  "  I  can  tell  your  Maj- 
esty what  the  shogunate  will  advocate." 

"What?" 

"  The  closing  of  the  ports  and  the  sending 
away  of  all  foreigners." 

"  But  that  is  just  the  policy  you  advocate," 
said  Kommei.  "  You  will  grant  me  that  this 
is  suspicious,"  he  quickly  added. 

Echizen  answered: 

"  Your  Majesty,  the  shogunate,  realizing  its 
own  weakness,  will  outwardly  identify  itself 
with  a  popular  policy.  In  secret,  it  has  its 
own  policy." 

"Sire,"  interjected  Mori,  beseechingly, 


311 


pray  you  answer  them  with  the  majesty  that 
is  Japan,  and  commit  yourself  to  no  policy 
with  them.  Once  they  are  gone,  command  the 
expulsion  of  the  foreigner,  and  we,  your  true 
and  faithful  Imperialists,  will  obey  you  at  once. " 

The  Emperor's  faith  was  still  unsettled. 
Their  proposals  he  respected,  but  their  loyal- 
ty he  distrusted. 

"You,  Echizen,  and  you,  Mori,"  he  said, 
abruptly,  closing  a  period  of  silence  and 
thought — "  I  shall  put  you  to  the  test.  Come 
with  me  to  the  audience -hall.  If  you  have 
fathomed  the  counsels  of  the  shogunate,  it 
shall  be  as  you  wish." 

The  Emperor  left  the  chamber.  Mori  would 
have  taken  the  Mikado  blindly  at  his  word 
and  have  followed  him  to  the  audience-hall, 
but  for  the  detaining  grasp  of  Echizen. 

"His  Majesty  means/'  he  explained,  "that 
we  shall  join  him  in  the  ante-room  of  the 
audience-hall.  He  regains  his  own  palace  by 
paths  of  which  we  must  appear  ignorant." 

Although  transported  with  joy,  and  in  a 
state  of  mind  that  would  permit  of  little  re- 
straint, Mori  was  kept  in  the  room  by  Echizen 
until  a  sufficient  time  had  elapsed.  Then 
Echizen  conducted  the  Prince  to  his  own  quar- 
ters, where  both  made  suitable  changes  in 
their  attire.  At  the  end  of  an  hour  the  con- 
fidential servants  of  the  Mikado  came  in  per- 
son to  summon  them  to  the  audience-hall. 

Early  as  was  the  hour,  the  whole  Kioto  court    ,, 

^^  -*  €^=— I  ^—^ 

312 


TWE  AGOING  op  VJSTAPJ  A 


* 


was  astir  to  enjoy  a  profound  sensation  —  the 
coming  of  the  Shogun  to  Kioto.  The  news 
ran  like  fire  through  the  palace,  carried  by 
servants  and  masters  alike.  Courtiers  hast- 
ened to  seek  out  the  finery  they  too  seldom 
wore  of  late.  The  astute  reasoned,  and  the 
profound  were  dumb. 

Some  rumor  of  the  events  in  Yedo  had  gain- 
ed strength.  Even  the  least  consequential  felt 
that  a  turn  in  fortune  had  come. 

Within  the  spacious  audience-hall,  Echizen 
and  Mori  found  vantage  spots  on  a  side  of 
the  Emperor's  screen,  opposite  to  that  occupied 
by  the  sullen  Aidzu.  Mori  now  found  that  he 
had  enjoyed  a  privilege  given  to  the  few  in 
having  seen  the  whole  person  of  his  Emperor. 
Upon  state  occasions,  only  the  face  —  or  voice, 
even  —  gave  sign  of  the  presence  of  the  Son  of 
Heaven. 

At  the  head  of  the  hall  a  raised  platform  ex- 
tended across  the  entire  breadth  of  the  apart- 
ment. To  its  edge  there  hung  from  the  ceil- 
ing richly  embroidered  curtains  of  heavy  silk. 
The  design  was  that  of  a  dragon  whose  two 
frightful  bodies  met  at  the  head,  which  oc- 
cupied the  exact  centre  of  the  tapestry.  The 
closely  observant  eyes  of  Mori  detected  lines 
near  the  head,  showing  that  a  square  of  the 
material  could  be  removed,  leaving  a  small 
opening.  It  was  through  this  alone  that  the 
Emperor,  as  the  Shinto  deity,  received  the 
homage  of  his  court. 


TOE  -VOOJNG  OF  VJSTAPJ  A 


There  was  a  signal  from  the  samurai  who 
acted  as  master  of  ceremonies.  The  outer 
doors  were  pushed  to  either  side  to  admit  the 
procession  of  the  Shogun  Kii,  a  boy  scarce  fif- 
teen years  of  age,  and  his  numerous  advis- 
ers, ministers,  and  court.  Among  the  richly 
attired  crowd  of  lords  about  him  was  Catzu, 
plainly  the  virtual  Regent,  and  head  of  the 
bakufu. 

The  Shogun,  the  Lord  of  Catzu,  and  the 
entire  assemblage  fell  upon  their  knees  at  a 
sign  from  the  master  of  ceremonies. 

There  was  a  pause  of  expectation.  Then 
the  square  in  the  head  of  the  dragon  moved 
aside.  Dimly  seen,  appeared  the  upper  portion 
of  the  head  of  the  Emperor  Kommei  Tenno. 

The  Lord  of  Catzu  spoke  while  still  kneeling, 
without  daring  to  gaze  in  the  direction  of  the 
Emperor  behind  the  screen. 

"Your  Serene  Majesty,  Son  of  Heaven  and 
Father  of  Earth/'  he  said,  unctuously,  "the 
insignificant  shogunate  desires,  as  of  old,  to 
render  its  filial  submission  to  thee,  and  to  give 
every  evidence  of  its  love  and  devotion." 

"It  is  well,"  said  a  voice  from  within  the 
dragon's  head. 

"The  Shogun,"  continued  Catzu,  after  a 
respectful  pause,  "  as  war  lord  of  your  Serene 
Highness,  desires  to  ask  your  Majesty's  per- 
mission to  banish  all  foreigners  now  in  your 
imperial  realm  as  most  noxious  to  your  Maj- 
esty, and  to  close  again  the  ports  of  Nippon. 

..-..  £.       '        A          "-IE-  3T=i 

314 


-B- 


TtfE  . 


"WISTARIA     n 


na 


The  Shogun  has  sent  an  embassy  to  Europe, 
that  this  may  be  done  without  violence  and 
in  dignity." 

This  time  there  was  no  response  from  the 
Mikado  behind  the  tapestry.  Catzu,  having 
paused  an  instant,  resumed: 

"  Has  your  Serene  Highness  any  commands 
for  his  war  lord?" 

The  voice  issued  again  from  the  dragon 
hangings.  It  was  a  trifle  raised  now,  but 
perfectly  clear. 

"It  is  decreed  that  the  Prince  of  Echizen  is 
made  premier  to  the  Shogun,  and  first  minister 
in  all  our  empire." 

Catzu  was  taken  aback.  His  head,  however, 
was  bent  to  the  ground  in  submission. 

"Thou  art  the  Son  of  Heaven."  he  said, 
while  rage  choked  his  throat 


315 


A 


T  last  Prince  Echizen,  the  new 
premier,  and  the  Prince  Mori 
completed  all  arrangements  for 
the  issue  and  execution  of 
the  order  promised  by  the  Mi- 
kado. 

It  was  agreed  between  the 
two  and  their  Imperialist  allies 
that  when  the  bell  within  the 
Emperor's  private  belfry  should 
sound,  the  transport  of  troops 
and  cannon  to  Shimonoseki,  in 
Choshui,  should  begin.  When 
the  hour  struck,  a  vast  army  of 
laborers  should  move  in  the 
same  direction,  to  build  for- 
tifications under  the  direction 


of  Mori,  for  there  a  foreign  fleet  was  now 
lying. 

It  was  also  agreed  that  everywhere  with- 
in sound  of  the  bell  the  order  of  the  Emperor 
for  the  expulsion  of  the  foreigners  should  be 
heralded  and  placarded  by  agents  in  waiting 
for  this  purpose. 

The  Emperor,  in  spite  of  the  protests  of 
Aidzu,  whom  he  distrusted  but  dared  not  re- 
move as  yet  from  his  governorship  of  the  city, 
still  held  to  his  promise.  Having  once  gained 
that  promise,  Echizen  had  troubled  him  as 
little  as  possible,  knowing  that  to  succeed,  he 
must  seek  the  Emperor  last  of  all. 

Mori,  on  his  part,  had  sent  to  the  forces  he 
had  ordered  to  march  on  Yedo,  other  com- 
mands that  bade  them  halt  until  he  himself 
should  join  them.  They  would  be  the  flower 
of  his  force  against  the  foreigner. 

Knowing  that  Aidzu  would  interfere  with 
his  own  person,  if  need  be,  to  prevent  the  is- 
suing of  the  edict  of  expulsion,  Echizen,  on  the 
afternoon  of  the  day  decided  upon,  caused  it 
to  be  whispered  about  the  court  that  two  days 
hence  he  would  give  the  signal.  He  thought 
thus  to  put  Aidzu  off  his  guard,  for  he  knew 
that  the  shogunate  meant  nothing  by  its 
formal  request  of  the  Mikado.  Meeting  pop- 
ular demand,  it  had  advocated  the  banish- 
ment of  foreigners  through  diplomatic  nego- 
tiation which  signified  little.  Echizen  knew 
that  the  shogunate  desired  open  ports,  and 


7WE  ^WOOING  °^  VW3TAPJ  A     n 

— 3^  -3r  — :3E \ * 


thought  it  extremely  unlikely  that  the  Mikado 
would  issue  any  expulsion  decrees  in  response 
to  their  statement. 

That  night  Mori  and  Echizen  met  the  Em- 
peror by  secret  appointment.  Aidzu  was  not 
in  sight.  The  three  took  the  way  to  the  belfry, 
which  stood  near  the  outer  wall  on  the  west- 
ern side  of  the  court  enclosure.  The  path  lay 
through  a  garden  little  used  save  by  the  Em- 
peror alone.  Down  the  hill-side  it  went  through 
a  field  of  iris  to  the  temple  belfry,  a  low  build- 
ing set  on  the  ground,  not  in  a  tower. 

The  Emperor  was  still  doubtful,  even  while 
on  the  way  to  issue  the  order. 

"Is  it  the  best  thing  to  do?"  he  repeated, 
fretfully. 

"The  only  thing,"  replied  Mori,  firmly. 

"There  is  no  other  course,"  insisted  Echizen. 

The  wind,  stirring  in  the  tree-tops,  swayed 
the  shadows  gloomily  from  side  to  side. 

"What  is  that?"  exclaimed  the  Emperor, 
halting  in  alarm. 

"Only  the  wind,  sire,"  answered  Mori. 

"Come,"  repeated  Echizen. 

Arrived  at  the  belfry,  the  Emperor,  gather- 
ing his  cloak  closely  about  him,  stepped  gin- 
gerly upon  its  broad  platform,  and  stood  there 
doubtfully  regarding  the  swaying  iron  chain, 
from  which  was  suspended,  close  to  the  bell, 
the  heavy  metal  hammer. 

"  1  am  to  draw  this  back,"  mumbled  Kommei, 
stupidly. 

: —  4    "-      l,  fr  '   ,       1         .  3T 

tt 


TOE  -VOOJNG  of  vmAPJ  A     n 


% 


a 


"You  are  to  draw  it  back  as  far  as  the 
chain  will  permit,  your  Majesty/'  answered 
Mori.  "Do,  1  beg  your  Majesty,  ring;  sound 
the  signal  at  once." 

The  Emperor,  stretching  out  his  hand,  reach- 
ed for  the  chain  with  its  swinging  hammer. 
A  form  burst  from  out  the  iris  bed  behind 
him.  In  alarm,  the  trembling  Kommei  dropped 
the  chain. 

"  Quick! "  whispered  Mori, excitedly.  "  Ring, 
sire — ring!" 

"Ring,  sire!"  repeated  Echizen,  frantically. 

But  the  Emperor  was  staring  with  fascinated 
gaze  into  the  face  of  Aidzu,  who  stood  beside 
him. 

"Do  nothing  of  the  kind,  sire,"  he  panted, 
heavily.  "  Do  nothing  of  the  kind.  It  means 
ruin  to  the  empire." 

"  It  means  ruin  to  your  enemies,  sire,"  cried 
Echizen. 

"It  means  death,"  said  Aidzu. 

"It  is  the  doom  of  the  shogunate,"  cried 
Mori. 

Still  the  Emperor  hesitated  and  shivered. 

Again  there  was  a  sound  of  running  feet. 
Suddenly  a  boyish  figure  leaped  into  the  group 
of  men  and  sprang  upon  the  belfry  platform. 
A  quick  hand  drew  back  the  swinging  ham- 
mer to  the  full  length  of  the  chain.  Then  re- 
leasing it,  the  hand  shot  the  hammer  straight 
and  true  at  the  bell's  heart. 

The  signal,  reverberating  heavily,  far-sound- 


319 


n  r..«rw~^,w--Jf    VflSTARlA 

_rfl -f  ^"^  ^  r  ^itft^  ^tf 

ing,  floated  into  the  distance,  filling  the  air 
with  its  sombre  zoom!  gohn!  gohn!  gohn! 

A  slender  boy  knelt  at  the  Emperor's  feet. 

"Your  Majesty  commanded  me  to  ring," 
said  a  voice. 

Mori,  peering  forward,  recognized  in  an 
instant  the  boy  Jiro.  A  great  lump  welled 
up  in  his  throat,  choking  him  with  the  in- 
tensity of  his  emotion. 

"Treason!  Kill  him!"  shrieked  Aidzu. 
"Your  Majesty  gave  no  such  command." 

Nettled  at  the  air  of  constant  authority  about 
Aidzu,  the  Emperor  forgot  his  caution.  Per- 
haps, too,  the  deed  of  the  boy  had  touched 
him,  just  as  it  had  relieved  him  of  embarrass- 
ment. 

"I  so  commanded,"  he  said. 

"But  your  Majesty  spoke  no  words,"  ejac- 
ulated the  infuriated  Aidzu. 

"  The  Son  of  Heaven  need  not  speak  by  word 
of  mouth  to  be  understood,"  was  the  exasper- 
ating and  perfectly  dignified  response  of  the 
Mikado. 

Forgetting  himself  in  his  rage,  Aidzu  turned 
to  Echizen  and  Mori. 

"I  will  thwart  your  plans  yet,  be  assured, 
my  lords." 

Mori  drew  himself  up  proudly,  and  throwing 
back  his  head,  surveyed  the  governor  con- 
temptuously. 

"It  is  too  late,"  he  said.     "Listen!" 

From   all   quarters   of   the   city  about   the 


320 


T 


4 


palace  there  came  the  sound  of  stirring  move- 
ment. At  first  the  noises  mingled  in  con- 
fusion and  were  indistinguishable.  Gradual- 
ly, as  their  several  origins  receded  and  drew 
apart,  they  became  capable  of  separate  identi- 
fication. Off  to  the  west  a  large  body  of  horse- 
men were  fiercely  galloping.  To  the  east  the 
tread  of  men  marching  in  regular  formation 
shook  the  ground.  Farther  south  there  was 
the  indistinct  tramp  of  distant  horses,  min- 
gled with  the  metallic  clank  of  gun-fittings. 
Cannon  were  being  moved. 
The  march  to  Shimonoseki  had  begun. 


321 


a 


Ntf  STAPJA 

-$-  i 


T  was  the  last  stage  of  Mori's 
march  to  his  seaport  of  Shimon- 
4  oseki.  In  the  extreme  rear,  with 
a  mounted  force  lately  assem- 
bled under  the  direction  of  Toro, 
the  Prince  of  Mori  rode.  Near 
him  were  Jiro  and  his  ever- 
constant  guardian,  the  samurai 
Genji,  also  mounted.  An  emp- 
ty norimon,  which  served  as  a 
travelling  council  -  house,  was 
borne  by  runners  in  advance  of 
this,  the  rear-guard. 

The  march  of  the  expedition 
was  slow,  since  it  was  regulated 
by  the  pace  of  the  laborers  who 
preceded  the  main  body,  as  they 


322 


THE  AgooiNG  QJP\MSTAR)A     n 

were  to  throw  up  the  intrenchments  without 
which  the  cannon  of  the  Mori  foundries  were 
useless. 

j  The  division  of  laborers  marched  imme- 
diately behind  the  advance-guard.  Feeling 
little  apprehension  of  attack  from  the  objective 
direction  of  their  march,  Mori  had  thrown  his 
strength  to  the  rear.  Here,  in  addition  to  the 
cavalry  forces,  were  the  cannon  brought  from 
his  provinces  and  those  furnished  by  the 
Prince  of  Echizen. 

Over  all  a  moon,  screened  by  a  filmy  cloud, 
spread  its  diffused  light,  which  rendered  Mori 
impatient  to  begin  the  work  of  intrenchment, 
since  much  might  be  accomplished  before  the 
foreign  ships  could  learn  of  the  Imperialist 
plans. 

When  Mori  and  Jiro,  leaving  the  discom- 
fited Aidzu  and  the  vacillating  Emperor  to- 
gether, had  rushed  from  the  palace  enclosure 
to  mount  the  horses  provided  by  Echizen  just 
outside,  there  had  been  no  time  for  explana- 
tions. Mori  was  not  even  surprised  to  find 
Jiro  joined  by  Genji  before  they  had  galloped 
a  mile.  He  had  become  accustomed  to  the 
association  of  these  two  in  a  convenient  com- 
radeship. 

The  first  work  of  that  night  had  been  the 
posting  of  mounted  guards  in  advance  and 
in  the  rear  of  the  laborers,  assembled  by  Echi- 
zen. This  done,  the  three  had  galloped  to  the 
division  of  the  cannon,  which  was  hurriedly 


323 


organized  into  some  semblance  of  individual 
batteries  and  despatched  after  the  proletariat 
division. 

Then  in  a  wild,  quick  dash  across  the  coun- 
try the  Prince  of  Mori  had  marshalled  his  in- 
fantry, swordsmen,  and  riflemen  from  the  scat- 
tered columns  into  one  compact  corps.  Time 
was  now  pressing,  but  the  Shining  Prince  had 
yet  to  converge  his  parallel  lines  of  cavalry. 

Fearing  that  the  unstable  Emperor,  in  some 
new  doubt  of  expediency,  might  yet  despatch 
other  troops  to  recall  him,  Mori  placed  his 
strongest  cavalry  body  under  the  command 
LI  of  Genji  in  the  rear. 

While  waiting  for  one  of  these  divisions  to 
file  past  him,  Mori,  turning  suddenly  to  Jiro, 
asked : 

"  How  came  you  into  the  Emperor's  palace, 
Jiro?" 

"It  was  simply  done,"  replied  the  lad.  "I 
returned  with  the  couriers  sent  by  you  to  your 
forces  from  the  fortress  of  Mori." 

"You  came  in  good  time,"  Mori  said,  in 
quiet  commendation. 

The  distribution  of  the  various  forces  com- 
pleted, Mori,  ordering  Genji  to  exercise  a  gen- 
eral oversight  until  his  return,  had  turned  to 
gallop  back  to  the  palace.  He  had  gone  but 
a  short  distance,  however,  when  he  found  that 
the  lad  Jiro  was  close  behind  him. 

"Return  to  Genji's  cavalry  division,"  he 
-j  ordered,  briefly. 

,  n     ,  

t — ffi-         it  ..«.--•      •  _.r -sites."  "  "   .  A *t 

®  324 


\WSTAR)A 


n 


"But,  your  highness,  I  am  your  personal 
armor-bearer;  I  must  accompany  you." 

The  hard-riding  form  of  Genji  at  this  mo- 
ment had  dashed  forward.  Mori  was  astound- 
ed at  this  singular  disobedience. 

"  What,  you  1"  he  had  cried.  "  You  leave  an 
army  to  care  for  itself!" 

"  But  the  lad—  Jiro,"  said  Genji. 

"  Is  he,  then,  so  precious  that  you  endanger 
the  safety  of  a  whole  cause?  Return  at  once, 
both  of  you,  to  your  stations." 

Without  a  word  more,  Mori  rode  to  the  palace 
to  confer  with  Echizen.  He  found  the  premier 
greatly  troubled. 

"Mori,"  he  said,  "I  cannot  prevail  upon  the 
Emperor  to  make  me  his  own  premier  as  well 
as  that  of  the  Shogun.  Already  he  is  weak- 
ening. You  must  expect  little  aid  from  me 
now,  since  I  will  be  under  the  Shogun.  I  may 
aid  you  unexpectedly,  but  rely  upon  nothing 
more  than  my  willingness.  Undoubtedly  ,  efforts 
will  be  made  to  interfere  with  you,  but  disregard 
them.  Obey  the  order  you  have  received,  and 
allow  no  Shogun  to  countermand  it.  The  for- 
eigners once  aroused,  the  rest  will  come  in  time.  " 

So  it  was  with  an  anxious  heart  that  Mori 
rode  in  the  rear  of  his  forces  on  the  last  stage 
of  the  journey.  Up  to  this  time  nothing  un- 
toward had  occurred.  He  had  met  and  joined 
to  his  army  the  forces  under  Toro,  ordered 
earlier  to  proceed  from  the  Mori  fortress  to 
Yedo.  All  was  well-  with  them. 


325 


The  melancholy  of  the  Prince  was  broken 
by  the  entrance  through  a  sudden  opening 
made  in  the  group  of  his  horsemen  of  some 
strange  samurai.  Straightway  these  samurai, 
having  delivered  to  him  some  rolls  of  parch- 
ment, were  dismissed  to  the  advance. 

The  general  staff  of  Mori,  which  included 
Genji,  Toro,  and  the  boy  Jiro,  were  summoned 
about  the  Prince  for  council. 

Mori,  who  had  dismounted  from  his  horse, 
spread  out  upon  the  ground  and  examined  by 
the  light  of  a  lantern  the  plans  of  the  heights 
overlooking  Shimonoseki.  Quickly  he  marked 
upon  their  surface  black  spots. 

"Here  you  will  dig  your  trenches,"  he  or- 
dered Toro.  "It  is  time  for  the  work." 

The  heights  overlooking  the  water  below 
were  entered  first  by  the  advance-guard,  now 
under  Mori  in  person.  A  cordon  was  placed 
about  them,  with  every  approach  from  the 
land  guarded.  Into  the  large  circle  thus  form- 
ed Toro  led  the  laborers  under  their  direction. 
At  once  the  trained  pioneers  began  the  erection 
of  earthworks  upon  a  system  imparted  by  Mori 
to  Toro,  and  from  the  latter  direct  to  the  chief 
pioneers.  The  entire  space  of  the  immense 
circle  was  soon  filled  by  the  burrowing,  grub- 
bing laborers. 

While  these  were  sinking  holes  on  the  land- 
ward side,  it  became  apparent  that  no  raised 
fortifications  were  to  be  made  a  target  for 
ships.  The  hills  themselves  were  cut  into,  but 

— a» — :~      -t &» —     r        .£        EL. 

*>  326 


n    THE  JWOOJNG  OF  VflSTAPJA     n 

Jj — Str— — ^L  ~3 «: 1 


always  upon  the  landward  side,  leaving  their 
natural  elevation  towards  the  sea.  Thus  the 
guns  would  lie  in  a  pit  below  the  surface  of 
the  highlands.  The  walls  were  all  within. 

Mori's  next  task  was  the  formation  of  the 
infantry  into  another  circle  to  the  landward 
of  that  occupied  by  the  pioneers.  Into  the 
centre  of  it  the  cannon  were  drawn,  where 
they  were  to  remain  until  the  trenches  were 
ready  for  their  occupancy.  The  remaining 
force  of  cavalry  was  massed  at  a  convenient 
station,  whence  they  could  be  sent  quickly  to 
any  desired  point. 

Now  at  last  there  came  a  period  of  inaction 
for  Mori.  The  pioneers  were  making  full 
speed,  but  nothing  further  could  be  done  until 
the  trenches  were  completed.  In  this  breath- 
ing space  Mori  rode  apart  from  all  his  forces, 
dismissing  his  temporary  staff  to  their  tasks 
of  oversight. 

Upon  a  lonely  bluff  the  Prince  dismounted, 
where  he  Was  able  to  make  out  indistinctly 
the  foreign  ships  of  war  at  anchor  below.  Con- 
cerning their  identity  he  was  little  informed. 
He  knew  several  nationalities  were  represent- 
ed, since  the  advent  of  the  Americans  had 
drawn  English,  Dutch,  French,  and  Russian 
men-of-war  to  the  coast.  At  least  four  nations 
must  be  represented  in  the  little  fleet  that 
stretched  out  yonder  over  the  water. 

"  It  little  matters,"  said  Mori.  "  They  may 
be  American,  English,  French,  or  Russian, 


WJSTARIA 


but  they  are  all  foreigners,  and  desire  to  en- 
croach upon  our  sacred  realm." 

As  he  turned  away  from  the  water  a  young 
officer  of  his  staff  saluted  him. 

"Many  trenches  are  now  prepared,  your 
highness/'  he  said. 

At  once  the  task  of  installing  the  guns  was 
begun.  Out  from  their  guarded  circle  they 
were  drawn.  The  horses  originally  transport- 
ing them  were  aided  by  the  cavalry  mounts, 
while  footmen  pulled  enthusiastically  at  the 
wheels  as  they  sank  into  the  trampled  mire 
or  were  blocked  by  natural  obstructions. 

Once  within  the  pits  destined  for  their  re- 
ception, the  guns  were  levelled  and  adjusted 
by  men  from  Mori's  works.  The  crews  ap- 
pointed to  each  gun  were  composed  of  the 
followers  who  had  come  from  the  Mori  for- 
tress. 

Dawn  found  much  of  the  work  completed. 
The  trenches  were  fashioned,  the  guns  within 
the  pits,  and  the  cavalry  in  their  appointed 
station.  '  The  outer  cordon  of  guards  was  in- 
structed to  dismount  and  to  recline,  horse  and 
man,  so  that  nothing  suspicious  could  be  seen 
from  the  decks  of  the  vessels  below. 

Within  the  trenches  the  adjustment  of  the 
heavy  pieces  was  in  progress,  together  with 
the  levelling  of  a  gun  platform  or  the  furtive 
sighting  of  a  gun.  Such  of  the  infantry  as 
were  not  engaged  in  this  employment  were 
thrown  out  as  scouts  on  the  landward  side, 


328 


WJSTAPJA     n 


that  no  Shogun  force  might  attack  them  in 
the  rear. 

Mori  now  made  a  round  of  inspection  with- 
in the  fortress.  Seeing  that  a  number  of  the 
guards  were  in  position  for  their  final  firing 
elevation,  the  Prince  called  Toro  to  him. 

"Let  the  crews  be  drilled,"  he  ordered,  "but 
without  raising  the  guns  above  the  tops  of  the 
trenches." 

The  young  and  impetuous  Toro  gave  his 
orders  speedily.  The  crews  were  thus  famil- 
iarized with  their  pieces. 

During  the  course  of  the  forenoon  it  was 
observed  that  the  foreign  fleet  changed  its 
position,  standing  off  from  land,  and  that  two 
vessels  left  the  squadron  and  disappeared 
around  the  headland. 

"  They  are  in  communication  with  the  Sho- 
gun's  people,"  said  Mori,  aloud. 

"Catzu  will  be  upon  us  shortly,"  said  a 
voice  at  his  elbow. 

Turning,  Mori  found  the  youth  Jiro.  His 
eyes  warmed  with  interest  as  he  regarded 
kindly  the  boy  who,  with  the  spirit  of  a  samu- 
rai, had  never  faltered  in  his  service.  Feel- 
ing strangely  drawn  towards  Jiro,  the  Prince 
looked  about  him  for  some  piece  of  especial 
employment  to  give  him  as  a  token  of  favor. 

"Ah,  my  boy,"  said  he,  "there  is  a  rare 
spirit  within  thee.  Would  that  thou  wert  a 
man." 

Hot  blood  colored  the  cheeks  of  the  boy. 


TOE  JWOOjNG  op  MflSTARJA 


His  eyes  clouded,  then  his  head  drooped  for- 
ward. 

"My  lord,"  he  faltered,  almost  tremulously, 
"I  am  indeed  a  man,  I  do  assure  you." 

Mori  smiled. 

"Only  a  boy,  Jiro,  that  is  all.  But  see  yon- 
der, they  are  bringing  in  the  last  and  largest 
of  the  guns.  Do  thou  attend  its  mounting." 

"  And  after,"  asked  Jiro — "  after  it  is  mount- 
ed, my  lord,  who  is  then  to  have  charge  of  it?" 

"Perhaps  thou  also,"  replied  Mori,  still 
smiling. 

"I  thank  thee,  my  lord,"  said  Jiro,  bowing 
deeply  and  hurrying  away. 

The  Prince  was  still  standing  there,  smiling 
across  the  water,  when  Oguri,  his  chief  of  staff, 
approached  him,  and  bowing  low,  awaited  his 
pleasure. 

"What  is  it,  Oguri?"  he  asked. 

"  Your  highness,  the  Lord  of  Catzu  is  at  the 
outer  guard -post,  announcing  that  he  comes 
with  a  message  from  the  Shogun." 

Mori's  brows  darkened. 

"Tell  him,"  he  ordered,  "that  we  know  no 
Shogun  here,"  and  turned  again  to  the  water- 
front. 

In  a  flash  he  saw  that  the  foreign  fleet  was 
approaching  a  spot  opposite  his  position. 

Oguri  maintained  his  place. 

"Will  you  not  see  him?"  he  asked. 

The  sight  of  the  fleet  changed  the  deter- 
mination of  Mori. 

— : A.  1  4E==L  *T= 

330 


\W3TAPJA 


"Tell  my  Lord  of  Catzu  that  I  will  see 
him  outside  the  works,  as  Lord  Catzu  sim- 
ply. Have  him  conducted  outside,  if  you 
please." 

The  Lord  of  Catzu  was  brought  to  the  spot 
mentioned  by  the  samurai  deputed  by  Oguri. 
Mori  met  him  coldly.  When  Catzu  offered 
credentials  from  the  Yedo  government  the 
Prince  waived  them  aside. 

"No  credentials  are  necessary,  my  lord," 
he  said.  "I  receive  you  as  a  private  indi- 
vidual." 

"I  come  as  an  official,"  returned  Catzu. 

"  What  is  it  you  wish  to  say  to  me?"  inquired 
Mori,  in  as  haughty  a  tone  as  his  own. 

"  As  a  representative  of  the  Shogun,  I  order 
you  to  disarm.  The  shogunate  alone  makes 
peace  and  war." 

"I  have  the  sanction,  the  command,  of  the 
only  master  I  acknowledge — his  Serene  Maj- 
esty the  Mikado." 

Catzu  still  breathed  heavily  from  his  labored 
ascent  of  the  hill,  for  the  Mori  men  had  refused 
to  permit  him  the  attendance  of  even  his  run- 
ners. 

"Do  you  still  refuse  to  obey  the  august 
Shogun?"  he  cried,  testily  and  with  difficulty. 

"I  obey  the  Mikado,"  returned  Mori. 

"Disarm!"  roared  the  now  infuriated  Catzu. 

Mori  raised  his  hands  as  though  in  prep- 
aration for  a  signal.  He  held  them  aloft  as 
he  shouted: 


; 


331 


-,  JJJIZ.*.  W^^JI  1V^  **J         WJ'O  ^/«\rVI>s| 

*F"  ^  ~£ -%-  1   "'"    » 

"I  shall  give  you  my  answer  with  awful 
effect,  your  highness." 

Sharply  Mori  lowered  his  hands.  The  sally- 
port facing  them  crashed  sharply  open,  dis- 
closing the  interior  of  the  lately  erected  forti- 
fications. 

"Look,  my  Lord  of  Catzu." 

In  trepidation  Catzu  looked  about  him.  The 
silent,  absorbed  patriots  were  at  their  guns. 
Directly  across  from  the  sally-port  within  the 
works  the  gun  of  Jiro  had  been  placed  in  posi- 
tion. The  youth  bent  forward,  was  sighting 
the  piece,  while  Toro,  arms  akimbo,  stood  back, 
approval  written  upon  his  face. 

"Guns  and  men,"  muttered  Catzu;  then, 
catching  sight  of  Toro,  he  almost  rushed  upon 
him.  Toro,  surprised,  turned  about  and  faced 
his  father. 

"Thou  recreant  son!"  roared  the  senior  Lord 
of  Catzu.  Meeting  his  father's  eyes  squarely, 
Toro  kept  silence. 

"Thou  art,"  said  Catzu,  "truly  a  vicious 
product.  Hast  thou  forgotten  all  the  precepts 
^  of  honor  taught  thee  from  childhood?  Thou 
art  no  son  of  mine,  nor  indeed  of  Japan,  for 
what  man  can  be  a  patriot  with  honor  who  sets 
his  father  at  defiance?  It  is  admitted  by  even 
4  those  more  ignorant  than  thou  that  a  true  son 
owes  his  first  allegiance  in  life  to  his  parent." 

"Nay,  my  lord,"  replied  Toro,  quickly. 
"You  do  labor  under  a  mistake.  The  first 
allegiance  a  son  of  Japan  owes  to  any  man  is 

— 3 - — _x     .     &          r        a=n= 

332 


op  VflSTAPJA 


that  claimed  of  him  by  his  supreme  master, 

the  Emperor.     Banzai,  the  Mikado!" 

•  :  Mori   stepped   quietly   before   the   enraged 

Catzu. 

"Now,  my  Lord  of  Catzu/'  he  said,  "you 
shall  have  my  answer." 

As  he  spoke,  he  caught  up  a  light  rifle  from 
a  guard  at  the  gate  and  fired  into  the  air.  In- 
stantly the  crews,  with  hoarse  cries,  elevated 
their  pieces  until  their  muzzles  stood  above 
the  breastworks;  carefully  they  trained  them 
upon  the  ships. 

"Ready,  my  lord,"  shouted  Toro. 

"Ready,  my  lord,"  echoed  Oguri. 

Mori  made  a  sign.  Instantly  a  heavy  dis- 
charge rent  the  air  and  shook  the  ground 
whereon  they  stood. 

Jiro,  at  his  gun,  directly  before  Mori  and 
Catzu,  himself  applied  the  match,  and  then, 
stepping  back,  squinted  along  the  piece  to 
see  the  effect  of  his  fire.  The  ball  broke  a  fore- 
mast on  the  leading  vessel.  In  consternation 
Catzu  left  the  place,  the  design  of  the  crafty 
Mori  to  embroil  him  with  the  enemy  through 
his  accidental  presence  dawning  upon  him. 

For  upward  of  an  hour  the  firing  continued. 
At  the  end  of  that  period  the  ships  drew  off 
from  range.  Mori,  elated  at  having  held  his 
own  against  the  foreigners,  and  now  certain 
of  the  consequences  of  his  action,  withdrew 
his  people  from  the  batteries.  That  night  the 
army  rested,  for  Mori  knew  that  the  foreigners 

f  '  iff         -l  1—  *•  *  ^C  -  - 

333 


TOE  .WOOING  of  \«STAR)  A 


would  lay  the  cause  of  the  bombardment  to  the 
shogunate  and  make  new  demands  upon  it. 

The  next  day  a  courier  from  the  Kioto  court 
entered  his  works. 

"It  is  some  new  mark  of  the  Mikado's  re- 
gard/' cried  Toro,  impulsively. 

Sadly  Mori  smiled. 

"I  fear  me  it  is/'  he  said. 

With  a  calm  face  and  firm  hand  Mori  open- 
ed the  despatch.  His  face  darkened. 

"What  is  it?"  cried  Toro. 

"We  are  branded  as  outlaws/'  answered 
Mori,  his  spirit  quite  gone,  a  deathly  pallor 
creeping  over  his  face.  "  We  are  forbidden  to 
approach  the  Imperial  city." 

"Aidzu?"  whispered  Jiro,  almost  in  tears. 

"Yes,  Aidzu,"  repeated  Mori. 

A  garrison  was  left  in  the  works  in  charge 
of  Oguri,  who  was  to  make  more  intrench- 
ments.  Mori,  with  his  cavalry  and  footmen, 
accompanied  by  Toro,  Jiro,  and  Genji,  returned 
inland  that  night  to  the  fortress  of  the  Prince. 


"*  334 


Of 


ITHOUT  the  Imperial  city  of 
Kioto,  in  an  open  field,  lay  en- 
camped a  little  army  of  thirteen 
hundred  men.  It  was  some 
months  following  the  decisive 
action  of  Mori  at  Shimonoseki. 
Imperialists  of  the  neighborhood 
could  not  have  told  who  the 
commander  of  this  force  was. 
They  were  known  simply  as 
the  "Irregulars." 

Small  as  was  the  force,  it  was 
admirably  trained  and  drilled 
in  all  three  of  its  divisions  of 
cavalry,  infantry,  and  artillery. 
Each  division  was  the  flower 
and  choice  of  some  larger  body. 

>   .  '      — .         .     -3fc.  .       r       JL  -  tt. 

335 


The  force,  which  had  remained  in  inaction  for 
a  considerable  period,  showed  nevertheless  a 
state  of  ruling  vigilance,  whether  for  attack 
or  defence  could  not  have  been  told  from  its 
appearance. 

The  camp  was  in  the  shape  of  an  elongated 
circle,  whose  circumference  was  regularly  de- 
fined by  field- pieces  set  at  regular  intervals, 
and  trained  to  oppose  any  invading  force. 
Near  each  cannon  were  tethered  the  horses  fur- 
nishing the  motive  power.  Hard  by,  stretch- 
ed upon  the  ground,  or  lounging  within  the 
scant  shadows  of  the  gun-carriages,  were  the 
artillerymen.  Infantry  guards,  in  armor,  and 
for  the  most  part  armed  with  rifles,  patrolled 
the  space  without  the  circle.  Other  soldiers 
and  samurai,  armed  only  with  swords,  sat  in 
the  openings  of  tents  assigned  to  their  division, 
or  occupied  the  time  in  sword  exercise  in  the 
open  spaces  between  their  shelters.  Near  the 
centre  of  the  encampment  were  assembled  the 
horses  of  the  cavalry  division,  saddled  and  in 
complete  readiness  for  their  riders,  who  lounged 
near  by. 

Within  a  short  stone 's-throw  of  the  horse- 
men was  pitched  what  seemed,  from  its  com- 
manding position  on  a  little  eminence,  the  tent 
of  the  commander  of  the  "Irregulars."  Close 
by  its  entrance  stood  an  enormous  samurai, 
whose  naked  sword  was  held  lightly,  care- 
lessly, in  his  hand.  In  conversation  with  him 
stood  a  hardy  youth,  attired  as  a  cavalryman. 


Fff 


336 


7H&WP01NC  OF  WJSTAPJA 

-»         -%  3          *        i  — 

The  curtains  of  the  tent  on  the  eminence 
were  parted  deftly,  and  the  slight  figure  of  a 
boy  hastened  towards  the  two. 

"My  Lord  of  Catzu,"  he  said,  "the  Prince 
Mori  desires  your  presence,  and  that  of  you 
also,  Sir  Genji." 

Toro  smiled  at  the  youth's  ceremoniousness. 

"Is  there  news,  my  Jiro?"  he  asked. 
i        "  Oguri,  as  you  know,  has  arrived  from  the 
south,  and  our  enemies  have  reported  concern- 
ing the  condition  of  the  city." 

The  three  hastened  within,  where  they  found 
Oguri  and  Mori. 

"  Now,  then,  Oguri,  your  news,"  commanded 
Mori. 

"Your  highness,"  said  Oguri,  "the  British 
have  bombarded  Kagoshima  as  a  result  of  our 
attack  upon  the  foreign  fleet." 

"Kagoshima!"  exclaimed  Mori  —  "the  cap- 
ital of  our  old  friend  Satsuma.  Then,  indeed, 
have  we  brought  trouble  upon  our  allies." 

Other  members  of  Mori's  staff  sent  through 
Kioto  reported  the  results  of  their  investiga- 
f  tions.  The  premier  Echizen  had  abolished  the 
custom  of  the  daimio's  compulsory  residence 
in  Yedo  during  a  portion  of  each  year,  and  now 
all  these  territorial  lords  resided  in  Kioto. 
Within  the  Imperial  palace  of  Kommei  Tenno 
the  Lord  Aidzu  appeared  to  have  controlling 
influence.  The  Lord  of  Catzu  was  there  with 
him  in  consultation.  Troops  of  the  Aidzu  clan 
had  arrived  at  the  palace  in  great  numbers 


337 


WISTARIA 


and  were  encamped  in  the  flower-gardens. 
Though  loathing  the  shogunate,  the  Mikado    L 

appeared  to  be  completely  under  its  control. 

Having  ascertained  these  facts,  Mori  dis- 
missed all  the  staff  save  Oguri,  Toro,  Genji, 
and  Jiro. 

"No  answer  has  come  to  our  petition?"  he 
asked. 

The  four  shook  their  heads. 

"None,"  they  said. 

"You  have  heard  the  reports,"  continued 
Mori,  "  and  will  perceive  that  the  Aidzu-Catzu 
party,  now  in  possession  of  the  Emperor's 
person  and  the  palace,  are  determined  upon 
something.  These  constant  arrivals  of  new 
troops,  the  silence  of  the  Mikado  to  our  peti- 
tion, the  crowding  of  the  palace  with  armed 
samurai — all  these  things  mean  that  we  are 
to  be  punished  for  having  petitioned  the  Mi- 
kado to  remove  from  us  the  ban  of  outlaw." 

"Then,  your  highness,"  broke  in  Toro, 
"since  the  petition  was  not  signed  by  you, 
but  came  from  us,  your  followers,  they  may 
now  know  of  your  arrival  here,  and  may  be 
preparing  to  send  out  an  expedition  against 
you  in  the  south." 

"No,"  replied  Mori,  "I  think  they  know  I 
am  here  with  you,  and  propose  to  attack  me 
at  once  here  in  my  camp.  Now,  my  friends, 
the  time  has  come  for  me  to  disclose  to  you  the 
real  purpose  of  this  expedition.  We  have  re- 
%  spectfully  petitioned  the  Mikado  to  admit  us 

c=4? 

338 


\W3TAPJA 


again  to  his  favor.  He  is  silent  He  is  sur- 
rounded by  his  enemies.  We  must  attack  the 
palace  and  rid  it  of  the  Aidzu-Catzu  combi- 
nation, thus  allowing  the  Mikado  once  more 
to  become  a  free  agent." 

Oguri  and  Genji  leaped  to  their  swords. 

"Now,  on  the  instant,  my  lord,"  they  cried. 

Mori  answered,  calmly: 

"No;  we  must  first  gain  some  knowledge  of 
the  exact  plans  of  those  within  the  palace. 
I  want  a  volunteer  for  this  service." 

Simultaneously  the  four  cried  out  for  the 
service.  Mori  considered. 

"No,  not  you,  Toro;  you  would  be  recog- 
nized too  quickly;  nor  you,  Oguri,  for  you  are 
needed  sorely  here.  Perhaps  you,  Genji,  but 
you  are  too  large." 

"I  am  small.  The  task  is  mine,"  broke  in 
Jiro.  "1  will  go." 

"Not  without  me,"  said  Genji. 

"  Why  not  without  you,  Sir  Genji?"  inquired 
Mori,  mildly.  "  The  boy  Jiro  needs  no  guar- 
dian. He  has  proved  his  valor  and  discretion 
upon  many  an  occasion." 

With  a  smile  whose  influence  was  ever  potent 
with  the  Shining  Prince,  Jiro  moved  nearer 
his  commander.  He  said,  gently : 

"  Permit  Sir  Genji  to  accompany  me.  I  have 
resources  within  the  palace  I  need  not  speak 
of  now,  which  will  insure  me  complete  safety, 
but  I  would  ask  that  the  samurai  be  placed  " — 
he  smiled  boyishly — "  under  my  command,  so 

jf     -     .JL  ff--.  I  J 

339 


that  if  I  am  forced  to  remain  within  the  palace 
he  may  carry  to  you  whatever  news  I  may 
gain." 

"What  do  you  mean?"  inquired  Mori. 
"What  resources  can  you  have  in  the  Mi- 
kado's palace?" 

The  lad,  stammering,  blushed. 

"My  lord,"  he  said,  "you  know  I  visited  the 
palace  before,  and — and — " 

He  broke  off  in  confusion. 

"As  you  will,"  said  Mori,  turning  aside. 

An  hour  later  the  samurai  Genji  strode 
through  the  eastern  gate  of  Kornmei  Tenno's 
palace,  accompanied  by  a  young  woman  with 
the  air  of  a  princess.  They  were  allowed  to 
pass,  while  Genji  answered  the  challenge  of 
the  guard  readily. 

"Of  the  household  of  the  Lord  Catzu,"  he 
said,  pointing  to  the  young  woman.  "My 
lord's  apartments?" 

The  guard  indicated  the  house  in  which  the 
Lord  Catzu  had  temporarily  taken  up  his  resi- 
dence. Without  further  challenge,  the  two 
reached  the  door  of  Catzu's  private  apartment. 
The  guard  at  the  door,  recognizing  the  two, 
ushered  them  into  the  presence  of  the  Lord 
Catzu. 

They  found  him  before  a  table  on  which  were 
spread  plans  and  letters.  In  irritation  at  being 
disturbed  in  the  midst  of  some  important  em- 
ployment, Catzu  glanced  up  from  his  scrolls. 

His  face  became  purple  with  astonishment 


340 


VJSTAPJA 


and  mingled  emotions.  From  the  caverns  of 
flesh  surrounding  his  puffy  cheeks  his  little 
eyes  gleamed.  He  stared  at  the  two  with  his 
mouth  agape.  They  regarded  him  smilingly. 
Finally  Catzu  gasped  out: 

"By  the  god  Bishamon!"  and  again  lapsed 
speechless. 

The  woman,  advancing,  knelt  at  his  feet. 

Catzu  lifted  her  into  his  arms. 

"Wistaria!"  he  exclaimed. 

"  Yes,"  she  smiled  up  at  him.  "  It  is  indeed 
Wistaria." 

Catzu  held  her  at  arm's-length. 

"Ah,  my  lady,"  he  chuckled,  wagging  his 
head  at  her,  "  it  is  plain  to  be  seen  that  a  re- 
ligious life  has  dried  your  tears  and  honora- 
bly mended  a  foolish  heart-break.  The  moun- 
tains have  made  you  as  rosy  as  its  flowers 
and  as  strong  and  hardy  as  its  trees." 

"And  thou,  dear  uncle?"  she  inquired. 
"Thou,  too,  seemest  in  good  health  and 
spirits." 

Catzu  sighed,  somewhat  out  of  keeping  with 
his  fat  and  happy  appearance. 

"Alas,  my  dear  Wistaria/'  he  said,  "your 
poor  old  uncle  has  suffered  much." 

"But  how?"  asked  Wistaria  with  feigned 
surprise. 

A  tear  appeared  in  Catzu's  eyes  and  rolled 
over  his  puffed  cheeks. 

"  I  have  lost  my  graceless  son,"  he  said. 

"My  uncle!"  said  Wistaria,  sympathetical- 


341 


ly,  while  she  looked  past  him  at  Genji  with  a 
knowing  glance. 

Catzu  also  turned  towards  Genji. 

"And  you,  Sir  Genji,  what  became  of  you? 
Now,  sir,  tell  me  how  it  comes  that  you  are 
here  with  my  lady  niece." 

"My  lord,"  answered  Genji,  "I  joined  my 
lady,  summoned  by  a  messenger  at  Yoko- 
hama, on  the  day  of  the  reception  in  the 
Treaty  House.  I  turned  my  prisoners  over  to 
another.  I  trust  they  were  deservedly  pun- 
ished for  their  offence." 

"Nay/*  said  Catzu,  "they  escaped.  But 
no  matter.  And  you,  Wistaria,  have  you  any 
love  left  for  that  husband  of  yours  who  de- 
serted you  on  your  wedding-day,  or  have  the 
mountains  and  the  gods  taught  you  of  his 
baseness?" 

Wistaria's  features  darkened  in  seeming 
hate. 

"I  could  kill  him,"  she  said.  Under  her 
breath  she  added,  "Forgive  me." 

The  Lord  Catzu  appeared  satisfied  and  turn- 
ed to  Genji. 

"You  may  resume  your  old  place  in  my 
train.  There  will  be  work  for  you  soon." 

Genji  bowing,  withdrew. 

"  Uncle,"  said  Wistaria,  "  tell  me  what  your 
words  just  now  meant?" 

"  Presently,  presently,"  returned  Catzu.  "  I 
have  good  news  for  you.  But,  first,  what  of 
yourself?" 


342 


TflE.  WOOJNG  Of?  VflSTAPJA 


Wistaria  shrugged  her  pretty  shoulders. 

"  Oh,  of  myself  there  is  little  to  tell.  I  grew 
tired  of  the  service  of  the  temple.  Thou  know- 
est  that  I  was  never  meant  for  a  priestess. 
Thou  didst  use  to  declare/'  she  added,  smil- 
ing roguishly,  "that  the  gods  designed  me 
for  the  court." 

"True,  true,"  said  Catzu,  regarding  her 
fondly,  "and  more  than  ever  I  declare  it. 
Thou  hast  budded  into  a  very  beautiful  wom- 
an, my  little  niece.  But  continue.  Thou 
wert  tired  of  the  temple  —  yes?" 

"Well,  I  thought  I  had  surely  offered  up 
sufficient  supplication  to  the  gods  to  have 
saved  a  hundred  ancestors  and  parents'  au- 
gust souls.  So  I  sent  for  Genji,  and  have,  as 
thou  seest,  returned  unto  thee.  " 

"Thou  didst  well.  And,  what  is  more,  it 
shall  be  my  task  to  punish  your  husband." 

Wistaria  averted  her  face  for  a  moment. 
Then  seating  herself  on  the  floor,  comfortably 
against  his  knee,  she  raised  to  him  innocent 
eyes. 

"Punish  him?  Why,  how  can  that  be, 
honorable  uncle?" 

"  He  is  encamped  near  by  with  a  rebel  army," 
said  Catzu,  lowering  his  voice  confidentially; 
"the  day  after  to-morrow  we  send  an  army 
of  chastisement  against  him  under  the  valiant 
Prince  of  Mi  to." 

"The  Prince  of  Mito/'  repeated  Wistaria, 
half  aloud. 


"* 


VJJSTARJA 

^E  -  %  3  —  3E  - 

"  Yes,  a  brave  nobleman  I  desire  to  become 
your  husband  in  time.  You  will  be  free  ere 
long,  I  do  assure  you."  Catzu  chuckled  con- 
fidently. 

"What  is  the  offence  of  —  of  —  this  rebel?" 

"  Your  husband  dog?  He  conspires  against 
the  Mikado.  Oh,  we  shall  drive  him  out." 

An  attendant,  interrupting  them,  ushered  in 
Aidzu.  Wistaria  slipped  to  the  door.  Catzu 
recalled  her. 

"Thou  mayest  remain,  niece.  Hear  our 
plans.  They  closely  concern  thee." 

"I  will  return  in  a  moment;  but  Genji  has 
my  perfume  sack,  which  I  desire." 

Outside  the  door,  Wistaria  spoke  in  an  ex- 
cited whisper  to  Genji. 

"Quick,  Genji,  you  must  hasten  back  to  the 
camp  without  delay.  Tell  the  Prince  that  an 
army  of  chastisement  under  the  young  Prince 
of  Mito  will  attack  him  the  day  after  to-morrow. 
You  yourself  have  seen  the  forces  in  the  gar- 
dens. Go  to  the  camp  at  once.  Make  your 
report  and  return  then  to  me." 

"And  thou,  my  lady?" 

"I  cannot  return  at  this  time  without  ex- 
citing suspicion,  perhaps  hastening  the  attack 
upon  my  lord  by  a  day.  I  must  remain.  I 
can  be  of  service  here." 

"  I  like  not  to  leave  thee,"  said  Genji,  in  great 
doubt  and  perplexity. 

"Nay,  you  must  do  so;  I  insist." 

"I  cannot.     My  duty—" 


344 


\W5TAPJA     n 

.»  T  S  ^1 


"Ah,  Genji,"  remonstrated  Wistaria,  "the 
devotion  of  a  samurai  is  best  proved  by  his 
obedience.  Go  thou  to  the  camp  of  my  lord; 
do,  I  beg — nay,  I  command  thee." 

Genji  bent  his  forehead  to  her  hand,  then 
very  slowly  turned  and  left  her. 

Her  uncle,  grown  impatient  for  his  niece, 
came  into  the  ante-chamber. 


345 


TOE  .WOOING  of 


HE  report  of  the  samurai  Genji 
caused  an  instant  stir  of  prep- 
aration throughout  the  camp 
of  Mori.  The  commanders  of 
the  batteries  inspected  their 
pieces  carefully,  giving  orders 
for  hurried  repairs  where  neces- 
sary; horses  were  examined 
foot  by  foot,  and  within  the 
tent  of  the  Irregulars'  leader  a 
last  council  of  the  staff  arranged 
the  details  of  an  early  morning 
march.  Then  the  rank  and  file 
were  sent  to  sleep  upon  their 
arms. 

"  You    are    certain    Jiro    is 
in    no    danger?"  Mori    asked, 


\MSTAPJA 


just  before  the  samurai's  return  to  the  pal- 
ace. 

"None  whatever,"  answered  Genji,  "even 
if  I  am  not  with  him,  your  highness.  He  has 
friends  at  court  and  may  yet  serve  us  further." 

Relieved  in  mind  concerning  the  safety  of 
the  youth,  in  whom  Mori  placed  deep  con- 
fidence and  for  whom  he  had  great  affection, 
the  leader  of  the  Irregulars  returned  to  his  tent. 
There  he  found  his  staff,  the  leading  kuge  of 
Choshui,  still  gathered,  though  the  morning's 
attack  had  been  thoroughly  ordered. 

Seating  himself,  Mori  began  the  composi- 
tion of  a  memorial  to  the  Imperial  throne. 
Glancing  up,  he  saw  his  officers  silently  watch- 
ing him. 

"What  is  it?"  he  inquired. 

Oguri  stepped  forward.  There  was  a  strange 
gravity  and  even  sadness  in  his  face  as  he 
bowed  deeply  before  his  superior. 

"Your  highness/'  he  said,  "our  cause  is 
just,  and  history  should  accord  us  our  proper 
place  when  the  anti-Shogun  government  is 
established." 

"Yes." 

"But  it  is  of  the  present  we  think." 

"Speak  on." 

"The  present  esteem  of  our  friends  in  the 
Kioto  court—  we  must  advise  them  of  our 
purity  of  motive." 

Mori  held  up  quietly  the  scroll  upon  which 
he  had  been  engaged.  He  replied: 


"I  have  thought  of  that.  At  this  moment 
I  am  inditing  a  memorial  to  the  throne,  begging 
his  Imperial  Majesty's  pardon  for  creating  a 
disturbance  so  near  to  the  base  of  the  chariot 
(throne),  but  declaring  that  we  do  it  that  he 
may  rule  without  a  Shogun,  the  sole  and  Im- 
perial master  of  his  own  empire." 

The  officers  looked  at  each  other  with  solemn 
expressions  of  approval. 

"My  lord/'  said  Oguri,  "we  would  wish 
also  to  write  letters  to  our  personal  friends  at 
the  Imperial  court.  May  we  have  your  august 
permission  to  do  so?" 

"Do  so  at  once,  my  brave  men,"  returned 
Mori,  "  but  do  not  forget  that  we  cannot  send 
them  this  night,  since  that  would  warn  them 
of  our  contemplated  attack.  Leave  your  let- 
ters with  me.  Write  them  here,  if  you  wish, 
and  I  will  be  responsible  for  their  delivery." 

Then  the  company,  careful  of  their  honor 
with  their  friends  and  foes  alike  at  court,  set 
to  their  task.  With  tears  in  their  eyes,  the 
patriots  traced  upon  the  paper  words  of  devo- 
tion to  their  country  and  their  cause.  Soon 
a  little  pile  of  epistles  lay  under  Mori's  hand. 
Their  valor  was  in  no  way  diminished  by  this 
satisfaction  of  their  honor.  ft 

During  the  night  Mori  obtained  some  rest, 
which  was  broken  at  intervals  when  bands  of 
ronins,  who  had  devoted  themselves  since  the 
Yedo  troubles  to  the  extermination  of  anti- 
.f  Imperialists,  came  to  his  encampment,  offer- 

ffi  ~       .J, — ~         .  JL-7  3&-  JL  .^Cl  .    '~ 

348 


TflEJWOQliNGOf?  VJ5TAPJA     n 

fls-^— -*£•  3fc  _JT  ^F-         — H 


I 


ing  their  services  in  any  movement  against 
the  Aidzu-Catzu  combination.  So  small  was 
Mori's  force  that  he  would  have  been  glad  of 
their  aid,  but  for  his  unwillingness  to  stand 
sponsor  for  their  unlicensed  acts. 

At  the  hour  when  the  Lord  of  Catzu  was 
unsealing  a  letter  from  his  son,  Toro,  justify- 
ing all  his  actions  in  the  past,  and  at  the  same 
time  beseeching  his  father's  forgiveness,  the 
little  force  of  Irregulars  encircled  the  Imperial 
palace. 

The  Lord  of  Catzu  had  read  enough  of  the 
letter  to  understand  its  import,  when  the  move- 
ments of  the  army  without,  accentuated  by  the 
sharp  cries  of  the  guarding  samurai,  came  to 
his  ears. 

"  There  has  been  some  strange  treason  here," 
cried  Catzu,  wildly,  as  he  summoned  his  fol- 
lowers to  arms. 

Mori's  plan  of  battle  was  simple.  The  force 
had  been  divided  into  three  divisions,  com- 
manded by  himself,  Oguri,  and  Toro  respec- 
tively. It  was  not  without  misgivings  that 
the  Prince  had  intrusted  the  command  of  a 
division  to  the  rash  Toro,  but  the  reflection 
that  his  very  temerity  might  be  a  valuable 
element  in  the  day's  events  had  decided 
him. 

Each  of  these  divisions  was  to  proceed  to  a 
different  gate,  through  which  a  simultaneous 
attack  upon  the  inner  palace  was  to  be  made. 
Those  within  were  to  be  driven  out  by  the 


V0STAR1A 


infantry  into  the  streets,  where  cavalry  and 
artillery  would  cut  and  pound  them  to  pieces. 

The  artillery  was  upon  no  account  to  be 
directed  against  the  palace  itself,  since  the 
life  of  the  Son  of  Heaven  and  the  safety  of 
the  charging  forces  within  might  thereby  be 
imperilled.  A  portion  of  the  artillery  was 
given  to  each  division ;  the  cavalry,  acting  as 
one  body,  was  to  act  as  the  circumstances 
might  require. 

To  himself  and  a  band  of  chosen  samurai, 
Mori  reserved  the  capture  and  guarding  of 
the  Emperor's  sacred  person. 

At  the  western  gate  Mori  halted  the  van  of 
his  division,  while  the  cavalry,  closely  com- 
pact, rested  on  his  right  in  readiness  for  their 
orders.  At  his  left  was  his  artillery  force, 
so  arranged  that  their  fire  should  cut  obliquely 
the  line  of  entrance. 

The  Irregulars  who  faced  the  samurai  guard- 
ing this  port  of  entrance  presented  a  far  from 
uniform  aspect.  They,  the  infantry  of  his 
force,  were  all  in  armor,  but  their  weapons 
differed.  Some  carried  rifles,  others  were 
armed  with  spears,  swords,  and  bows  and 
arrows.  They  were  gathered  into  corps  ac- 
cording to  the  nature  of  their  arms,  but  all  were 
««  infantry. 

At  a  signal  from  Mori  a  rifle  volley  cut  down 
the  samurai  at  the  gate.  Those  who  were 
struck  dashed  through  the  portals,  whence 
issued  audible  proofs  of  the  alarm  felt  within. 

3T  ,JL  ^£—          Jn=:       *g 

350 


Instantly  the  ranks  of  the  infantry  parted 
to  permit  the  passage  of  a  body  of  laborers 
and  sappers,  who,  attacking  the  gate  with 
their  tools,  gave  promise  of  a  speedy  breach. 

At  the  moment  when  one  of  the  doors  gave 
way,  when  the  infantry,  straining  every  nerve, 
waited  couched  for  the  charge,  when  Mori 
in  their  rear  gathered  about  him  the  picked 
samurai  he  was  to  lead,  there  thundered  from 
a  point  across  the  palace  directly  opposite  the 
heavy  detonation  of  artillery. 

The  commander  was  thrown  into  grave  anx- 
iety. From  its  volume  he  knew  that  one  of 
his  lieutenants,  disobeying  his  orders,  was 
shelling  the  Imperial  palace.  The  safety  of 
the  Emperor,  and  his  own  good  faith,  were 
equally  endangered,  since  the  death  of  the 
Mikado  would  make  him  and  his  men  choteki 
(traitors)  in  the  eyes  of  the  nation. 

Mori  came  to  an  instant  decision.  Even 
at  the  cost  of  the  utter  failure  of  the  storming 
of  the  palace,  such  a  false  position  must  be 
avoided.  Committing  the  assault  of  the  west- 
ern gate  to  a  young  officer,  and  bidding  his 
picked  samurai  follow  him,  he  seized  the  horse 
an  attendant  held  for  him,  and  galloped  around 
the  angle  of  the  palace  wall. 

When  he  came  within  sight  of  the  central 
gate  of  the  eastern  wall,  Mori  saw  that  Toro, 
wearying  of  the  slowness  of  his  pioneers,  had 
ordered  his  artillery  to  batter  down  the  doors. 
One  small  volley  had  been  fired  when  the 

4          JL.       — &         i         a.    - 

351 


VMSTARlA 


Prince,  riding  fiercely  at  the  men  serving  the 
guns,  beat  them  down  with  the  flat  of  his 
sword. 

"Remove  these  guns  at  once,"  he  shouted; 
"you  must  not  fire." 

Sheepishly  the  gunners  picked  themselves 
up,  as  the  horses  dragged  the  pieces  to  one 
side.  Mori,  dismounting,  strode  up  to  Toro, 
now  standing  abashed  before  the  very  gate  he 
was  to  storm. 

"You  are  superseded,"  roared  the  enraged 
Mori.  "I  give  the  command  to  —  " 

With  a  quick,  almost  superhumanly  nervous 
movement,  the  gates  were  thrust  aside  from 
within.  The  black  muzzles  of  cannon  threat- 
ened the  now  disorganized  division  of  the 
Irregulars. 

"After  me,"  cried  Mori. 

A  flying  leap  carried  him  across  the  line 
of  cannon.  Out  from  their  mouths  belched 
their  fire.  The  invaders  were  swept  aside. 
Mori,  striking  terrible  blows  about  him,  or- 
dered his  men  to  advance,  when  the  Shogun 
cannon  were  withdrawn,  and  a  body  of  horse- 
men, with  savage  cries,  rushed  from  within 
the  palace,  driving  before  them  and  scattering 
the  survivors  of  Toro's  division. 

A  horse  felled  Mori  and  tossed  him  aside. 
As  he  struck  the  ground  a  gigantic  samurai 
seized  his  motionless  form,  threw  it  across  his 
shoulder,  and  carried  it  into  the  group  of 
palaces. 

m~      m     LJL       .      -»•  X       '       £  -  = 

352 


TOE  - 


The  body  of  chosen  samurai  who  had  fol- 
lowed Mori,  more  slowly  because  on  foot,  now 
came  up,  and  made  a  disheartening  stand. 
A  terrible  cry  arose  that  carried  dismay,  dis- 
organization, and  defeat  to  all  divisions  of  the 
Irregulars. 

"The  Shining  Prince  is  taken!  Mori  is 
killed!"  was  shouted  by  some  witless  mem- 
ber of  Toro's  division. 

Taken  up  by  others,  the  report  came  to  the 
officers  in  whose  charge  the  various  divi- 
sions had  been  placed.  Although  Oguri  made 
every  effort  to  carry  cohesion  throughout  the 
force,  the  shout  had  done  its  work.  Mori, 
the  Shining  Prince,  their  invincible  leader, 
was  dead,  thought  the  rank  and  file.  All  was 
lost.  With  such  a  spirit  to  combat,  the  of- 
ficers could  do  nothing. 

A  superstitious  fear  that  the  gods  had  de- 
serted them  entirely  for  their  sacrilegious  act 
of  attacking  the  palace  of  their  representa- 
tive on  earth,  the  divine  Mikado,  added  ter- 
ror to  the  Irregulars. 

Some  little  advantage  was  gained  here  and 
there  by  charges  into  the  gardens  of  the  palace, 
but  the  great  force  of  Aidzu  easily  repelled 
them.  Then  pouring  out  into  the  streets,  ^ 
the  army  of  chastisement,  under  the  young 
Prince  of  Mito,  cut  asunder  the  already  divided 
and  leaderless  force  of  Choshui.  Away  from 
the  vicinity  of  the  Imperial  enclosure  the 
J  centre  of  battle  rolled.  The  cavalry  of  Mori, 

az  -  LJL.     .       $-•  i  a  - 

13  353 


THE  JWOOJNG  <tf>  VJiSTAPJ A 


dashing  about  compactly,  made  charges  that 
were  intended  to  rally  the  men  of  Choshui, 
but  fruitlessly.  They  alone,  of  all  the  bodies 
of  the  Mori  army,  hung  together. 

The  Shogun  troop,  having  seized  the  cannon 
of  Toro's  division,  turned  them  upon  the  Im- 
perialists. Fresh  troops,  ordered  to  the  palace 
some  days  before  by  Aidzu,  now  arriving, 
overwhelmed  by  sheer  swamping  effect  the 
artillery  of  Mori,  once  their  fire  was  drawn. 
Most  of  Mori's  artillery  was  now  in  the  hands 
of  the  shogunates. 

As  the  flood  of  fighting  men  surged  through 
the  city  of  Kioto  in  diverse,  disintegrating 
directions,  fire  ingulfed  large  portions  of  the 
city.  A  gale  sprang  up  from  the  west,  fanning 
the  work  of  incendiarism  and  cannon.  Houses, 
squares,  streets,  yashishikis  of  the  visiting 
daimios,  whole  districts  were  destroyed,  while 
the  bakufu  followers  cannonaded  and  beat 
to  pieces  the  public  store-houses,  lest  some 
Choshui  men  should  find  hiding  there.  The 
lowly  Eta  in  their  peaceful  villages  were  driven 
out  and  their  houses  consumed  before  the 
breath  of  angry  war.  An  Imperial  city  fell 
almost  to  ashes  and  ruin  in  a  day  and  night. 

But  scattered  and  isolated  as  they  were, 
the  valorous  men  of  Choshui,  once  they  re- 
covered themselves  from  the  disaster  of  the 
palace,  made  a  last,  wild,  determined  resist- 
ance. 

A  party  under  Toro,  now  insane  with  grief, 

ft      ""       Jt.    .. 3&£         — -X.      .      &.     .,' 

354 


TOE  J 

%  3 


occupied  house  after  house  and  building  after 
building,  as  with  their  rifles  they  brought  down 
the  enemy  during  a  slow  retreat,  when  they 
fired  every  edifice  they  were  forced  to  abandon. 

Darkness  drew  no  kindly  curtain  over  the 
red-heated  stage  of  action.  The  light  of  vast 
conflagrations  gave  sufficient  illumination  for 
sword  to  meet  sword  in  a  shock  broken  only 
by  death.  The  houseless,  homeless  residents 
of  the  city,  non-combatants,  fleeing  to  the  hills 
for  their  lives,  deepened  the  tragedy  of  the 
scene. 

In  the  confusion  of  this  isolated  series  of 
battles,  Oguri  had  come  upon  the  cavalry 
division.  Vaulting  into  an  empty  saddle,  he 
took  command.  Diffused  as  the  avenging 
wave  of  the  young  Mito  had  now  become,  it 
could  be  broken  through  in  some  single  spot, 
Oguri  believed.  The  bakufu  men  thought 
only  of  attack,  not  of  being  attacked. 

Through  a  quarter  of  the  town  as  yet  un- 
touched by  the  fury  of  either  party,  Oguri  led 
the  cavalry  back  towards  the  palace.  Coming 
upon  Toro's  party,  he  added  them  to  his  forces. 
But  with  his  meeting  of  Toro  he  had  chanced 
upon  a  fighting  zone.  Through  the  cleared 
space  on  which  still  smouldered  the  ruins  of 
buildings  fired  by  Toro,  Oguri  directed  a 
charge  against  the  infantry  opposed  to  him, 
and  passed  on.  In  this  way,  Oguri  gained 
gradually  a  passage  towards  the  palace. 
Whenever  he  came  to  a  region  of  houses 


355 


THE  .WOJNGOJ*  \WSTAFUA 


from  which  he  was  attacked,  Toro  and  his 
followers,  become  pioneers  and  sappers,  lev- 
elled and  set  fire  to  them,  clearing  the  way 
for  a  new  charge  of  Oguri's  horse. 

Slowly,  still  undiscovered  by  the  main  body 
of  the  enemy,  they  reached  the  palace. 

Gray,  dismal,  haggard  dawned  the  day,  as 
though  fearing  to  look  with  sun  eyes  upon 
the  horror  wrought  by  dark  night.  From 
the  burning  city  great  mists  of  smouldering 
debris  hastened  to  veil,  as  though  in  sym- 
pathy, the  eyes  of  the  lord  of  day. 

Within  the  palace  Mori  came  to  conscious- 
ness. He  lay  in  a  chamber  looking  upon 
what  he  recognized  as  the  inner  court  of  the 
Imperial  palace.  One  hand  wandered  in  con- 
vulsive movements  down  his  person.  He 
found  that  his  armor  was  still  upon  him, 
though  loosened.  Upon  the  floor  by  the  side 
of  his  divan  lay  his  swords  and  helmet.  Mori 
fell,  rather  than  rose,  from  the  divan,  and  stood 
dizzily,  uncertainly  erect.  Then  attempting  to 
raise  his  sword,  he  fell  from  weakness. 

At  the  sound  a  woman  came  forward  from 
the  recesses  of  the  apartment.  Mori  regarded 
her  with  delirious  eyes.  She  seemed  a  white 
phantom  who  had  risen  up  in  his  path  to  taunt 
him  with  her  wondrous  loveliness.  But  over 
her  there  was  the  gauzy  cloud  of  falsity.  She 
was  a  vampire. 

"You  are  yourself?"  she  breathed,  in  soft 
question. 

^ 3i :      -* „__ 

356 


TOE  .WOOJNG  o^ 


Sullenly,  dizzily,  Mori  raised  himself,  and, 
with  the  motion  of  a  drunken  man,  stooped 
to  his  sword  and  helmet.  Obtaining  them, 
he  turned  on  the  woman  burning  eyes. 

"  Touch  me  not,"  he  muttered.  Then  fling- 
ing aside  the  door,  and  seeking  the  stairway 
as  if  by  instinct,  he  tumbled  rather  than  walk- 
ed down  the  stairs. 

He  heard  the  tramp  of  horsemen  without. 
Brandishing  his  sword,  he  rushed  into  the 
gardens.  He  was  in  the  midst  of  Oguri's 
horsemen.  The  leader  flung  himself  from  his 
horse  and  threw  his  arms  about  his  disabled 
chief. 

Mori  tottered  into  the  arms  of  the  chief  of 
his  staff. 

"Seize  the  Emperor!"  he  half  moaned,  half 
gasped,  in  command;  "then — retreat — south 
— back — to  our  provinces." 

Anxious  to  retrieve  himself  in  the  eyes  of 
the  army  whose  destruction  he  laid  at  his 
own  door,  Toro  set  off  for  the  building  with- 
j»  in  the  court,  shouting  to  his  men,  as  Oguri 
received  the  swooning  Mori  into  his  arms. 

"Follow  me!  To  the  Emperor!"  shrilly 
cried  Toro. 

If  any  of  the  bakufu  troops  still  remained 
within  the  palace  they  did  not  show  them- 
selves while  Oguri,  busied  with  Mori,  let 
his  cavalry  stand  idly  by.  The  footfalls  of 
Toro's  party  resounded  through  the  inner 
quadrangle. 


357 


TOE  JWOOJNG  <*F  VJ^TAR)  A     n 

^ 


Within  an  inner  chamber,  crouching  in 
seeming  fear,  Toro  found  a  figure  dressed  in 
the  garments  his  knowledge  told  him  were 
Imperial.  He  knew  that  the  central  palace 
was  the  Mikado's  residence.  To  the  crouch- 
ing figure  Toro  made  respectful  obeisance. 

"Oh,  Son  of  Heaven,  yield  thyself  to  me. 
I  shall  care  reverently  for  thy  person/'  he 
said. 

The  figure  raised  a  pallid  face,  while  trem- 
bling lips  murmured: 

"  Wouldst  thou  lay  profane  hands  upon  the 
sacred  person  of  thy  Emperor?" 

"It  is  he!"  cried  Toro,  delighted.  "Seize 
him,  my  men,  and  carry  him  off."  He  modi- 
fied his  command  to  add  :  "  Touch  him  with 
respect,  I  command  you." 

To  Oguri  they  bore  the  still  trembling  man. 
The  lieutenant  ordered  him  placed  in  a  nori- 
mon,  where  his  sacred  person  might  be  shielded 
from  the  scrutiny  of  his  men. 

"Is  it  indeed  he?"  Oguri  questioned  Toro. 

"  No  doubt  of  it,"  returned  Toro.  "  He  him- 
self admitted  it." 

Oguri  and  Toro  now  consulted  together  as 
to  their  next  course.  Mori  was  still  insen- 
sible, despite  their  efforts  to  arouse  him.  In  \ 
\  the  reduced  condition  of  their  force,  Oguri  did 
not  deem  it  wise  to  remain  longer,  lest  return- 
ing bakufu  hosts  should  spoil  all.  He  could 
not  spare  the  men  to  carry  an  additional  nori- 
mon.  He  spoke  thoughtfully  : 


358 


„  .  WISTARIA 

$~3t^-  -       •&.  _   JT  .at  i       - 

"  His  highness,  our  beloved  Prince  of  Mori, 
is  of  royal  lineage  and  blood  himself,  as  thou 
knowest,  my  Lord  of  Catzu.  It  will,  therefore, 
be  meet  that  we  place  him  within  the  same 
norimon  with  the  Son  of  Heaven." 

The  body  of  their  senseless  leader  was  placed 
in  the  norimon,  while  Ogtiri,  in  order  to  attend 
to  his  wishes  when  he  should  regain  con- 
sciousness, was  forced  also  to  crowd  into  the 
vehicle.  Eight  strong  samurai  lifted  the  car- 
riage. 

"Back  to  Choshui,"  ordered  Oguri,  mind- 
ful of  the  last  order  of  his  chief.  Moreover, 
the  long  march  back  to  their  base  of  supplies 
was  the  best,  and  indeed  the  only  course  left 
to  them. 

Three  miles  outside  the  city,  Mori,  moaning, 
struggled  in  the  arms  of  Oguri. 

"All  is  lost!  All  is  lost!"  cried  Mori,  with 
heart-breaking  bitterness. 

"  Nay,  my  prince,  my  dear  lord,"  said  Oguri, 
in  a  voice  as  tender  and  soft  as  a  woman's, 
"  all  is  not  lost.  We  were  but  a  portion  of  our 
one  clan  of  Choshui.  Our  southern  allies,  our 
friends,  are  only  waiting  to  rally  to  thy  aid. 
Moreover,  we  have  achieved  a  great  triumph 
over  our  enemies."  He  lowered  his  voice. 
"  Your  highness,  we  have  honorably  captured 
the  person  of  the  Son  of  Heaven.  See!" 

He  lifted  with  one  hand  the  head  of  Mori, 
while  with  the  other  he  parted  the  curtains 
of  the  norimon,  letting  in  the  strong  light  of 


359 


day,  which  shone  upon  the  face  of  the  figure 
reclining  on  the  opposite  seat  in  the  norimon. 

Painfully  Mori  looked.     His  head  fell  back. 

"Fools!  Fools! "he  mumbled.  "You  have 
been  tricked  by  the  cunning  Aidzu.  That  is 
not  the  Emperor." 


u 


360 


TOE  - 


OR  two  days  the  fleet  carrying 
the  flags  of  four  foreign  nations 
had  bombarded  Mori's  intrench- 
ments  on  the  heights  of  Shimon- 
oseki.  Towards  the  evening  of 
the  second  day,  Mori  cast  up 
the  results. 

Guns  dismounted  by  the 
foreign  fire  lay  in  heaps  of 
d6bris,  the  dead  and  the  wound- 
ed impeded  the  steps  of  the 
living,  and  fully  half  of  the 
guns  were  out  of  action.  Yet 
steadily  and  fiercely  the  foreign 
vessels,  sweeping  across  the 
fort's  line  of  fire  in  a  wide  circle, 
one  by  one  emptied  their  guns 

rf-  I  A 

361 


TflE.  WOOING  of 


into  the  fortress.  Only  a  third  of  the  garrison 
now  remained  to  Mori. 

Again  the  Prince  drew  from  his  breast  Jiro's 
brief  letter,  sent  to  him  by  Oguri,  in  charge 
of  the  Choshui  fortress,  whither  it  had  gone 
from  Kioto. 

"My  lord,"  wrote  Jiro,  "your  honorable 
family,  together  with  the  two  cadet  families 
of  Nagate  and  Suwo,  has  been  stripped  of 
all  its  titles.  An  order  has  been  issued  for 
every  loyal  clan  to  march  against  you  in  your 
southern  stronghold.  They  are  sending  a  vast 
army  against  you.  Be  warned.  It  has  al- 
ready departed  for  your  province.  Yet  a  lit- 
tle cheer — a  small  light  appears  to  me.  The 
Shogun's  troops,  my  lord,  are  garbed  in  Japan- 
ese fighting  attire.  They  are,  moreover,  far 
from  being  a  united  or  happy  body  of  men. 
There  is  sore  dissatisfaction  and  unrest  among 
them.  Many  dislike  the  prospect  of  the  long 
journey  to  your  province,  many  are  secretly 
opposed  to  the  chastisement,  many  Kioto  men 
are  entirely  unfit  for  service.  If  you  will 
permit  your  insignificant  vassal  to  suggest, 
I  would  remark  that  it  will  be  well  for  your 
highness  now  to  avail  yourself  of  your  many 
years  of  labor  in  the  perfection  of  the  training 
of  your  troops  in  the  arts  of  Western  warfare. 
When  the  shogunate  troops  finally  reach  the 
south,  take  advantage  of  their  weakness." 

It  was  the  month  following  Mori's  disastrous 
expedition  to  Kioto,  and  the  letter  was  now 


** 


362 


TOE  .VJOOJNG  cf  WJ5TAPJ  A     n 

n 


many  days  old.  As  Mori  bent  his  head  in 
restoring  the  letter  to  its  place,  a  dull  impact 
shook  the  fortress.  A  shell  from  a  heavy  for- 
eign  gun,  striking  the  long  cannon  erected  by 
the  youth  Jiro  at  the  previous  bombardment, 
bursting,  rolled  the  bronze  tube  from  the  car- 
riage and  swept  it  into  a  little  knot  of  pio- 
neers, crushing  and  killing  the  majority  of 
them  outright. 

A  bitter  smile,  torn  from  the  heart  of  the 
commander,  curled  his  lips. 

"  Having  defied  the  '  civilized '  world,  I  little 
fear  the  shogunate,"  he  said;  "and  yet  I  can- 
not spend  more  time  here.  Our  guns  are  dis- 
mantled. That  is  an  omen  for  retreat.  It  was 
Jiro's  gun,  and  here  is  Jiro's  letter." 

Summoning  his  officers,  the  Prince  gave 
the  order  to  evacuate  the  works.  Horses  were 
attached  to  such  of  the  guns  as  were  worth 
saving.  Then,  with  these  in  the  rear,  the 
remnant  of  the  Shimonoseki  garrison  began 
the  march  to  the  Choshui  fortress. 

Upon  rejoining  his  chief  ih  the  latter's  private 
apartment,  Oguri  had  news  to  impart. 

"  It  is  a  strange  army,  truly,"  he  said,  "  that 
the  Shogun  has  sent  against  us.  They  are 
encamped  near  the  highway,  a  good  day's 
journey  north  of  us." 

"  A  strange  army,  you  say?"  inquired  Mori, 
mindful  of  Jiro's  letter. 

"  Ay.  Though  all  the  clans  were  ordered  to 
march  against  us,  but  few  have  done  so,  and 

=-T          -Jl  Tfc-  T^=^C= 

363 


they  are  sick,  silly  fellows,  growling  at  having 
to  leave  the  court  and  its  pleasures." 

"How  are  they  armed?    With  rifles?" 

"Some." 

"Artillery?" 

"The  pieces  taken  from  us  in  Kioto." 

Mori  was  lost  in  reflection  for  some  moments. 
Then: 

"Let  all  retire  to  rest  at  once." 

It  was  the  middle  of  the  afternoon. 

Mori  added,  without  pausing  to  explain  to 
his  puzzled  chief  lieutenant  the  reason  of  his 
strange  order:  "At  dusk  report  to  me." 

However  large  an  army  the  Shogun  might 
have  sent  against  the  men  of  Choshui,  the 
fortress  defenders  with  its  attendant  army 
went  to  their  unaccustomed  rest  without  the 
slightest  fear.  The  fortress  might  now  well 
be  considered  impregnable.  In  addition  to 
its  regular  defensive  works,  constructed  im- 
mediately upon  the  return  of  Mori  from  his 
melancholy  wedding-day,  there  were  now  a 
deep  moat  of  great  width  constructed  about 
the  whole  region  of  the  fortress,  gun-facto- 
ries, and  the  works  built  by  the  Prince  of 
Satsuma. 

All  that  afternoon  the  army  of  Mori  slept.  | 
The  first  hour  of  darkness  saw  a  departure 
from  the  fortress.  First  rode  six  companies 
of  horsemen,  from  whose  body  scouts  were 
thrown  out.  Next  marched  two  thousand 
infantry,  all  with  rifles.  They  wore  no  heavy 

3.     "       UL-          ..    &: - — l-z: ^=— 

364 


T 


armor,  and  as  their  company  commanders 
gave  their  orders,  their  tactics  were  seen  to 
be  modelled  upon  European  forms.  Finally, 
in  the  rear  lumbered  sixty  field-pieces.  Oguri 
rode  with  the  cavalry,  directing  the  route  of 
the  army.  Close  behind  him  was  Toro,  who, 
since  the  affair  of  Kioto,  was  on  intimate 
terms  of  good-fellowship  with  the  chief  lieu- 
tenant. 

Mori,  attended  at  a  distance  by  his  staff, 
rode  in  the  centre  of  the  infantry  division. 
The  entire  direction  of  the  current  routine  he 
left  to  his  subordinates,  riding  moodily  apart 
from  all.  The  men  marched  with  firm  and 
light  step.  On  their  own  soil  they  were  more 
assured  and  hopeful  of  the  issue. 

"  Oguri/'  asked  Toro,  as  in  perfect  quiet  they 
advanced  with  their  cavalry  —  "  Oguri,  how 
may  I  atone  for  Kioto?" 

"By  following  my  orders  closely,"  answered 
the  serious  Oguri.  "You,  with  the  cavalry, 
are  upon  no  account  to  charge  before  cannon- 
ading begins." 

"I  swear  by  the  god  of  war  I  will  not," 
promised  Toro. 

"  You  must  move  to  the  west  at  least  four 
miles,  throwing  out  your  scouts  regularly." 

"I  will.  Only  give  me  the  chance.  Was 
not  I  responsible  for  the  failure  at  Kioto?"  said 
Toro,  his  face  quivering  in  spite  of  himself. 

"Yes  and  no,"  said  Oguri;  "but,  at  all 
events,  his  highness  has  not  held  it  against  L 


365 


7HE-WOPJNG  of*  VJ)STAPv)A 

you.  He  told  me  that  after -events  justified 
you,  since  the  enemy  had  artillery  at  your 
gate." 

"But  he  allowed  me  no  chance  to  explain 
that  I  ordered  the  pioneers  back  when  I  heard 
their  artillery  being  brought  up.  I  wanted  to 
check  them  at  once." 

"The  Prince  has  nothing  but  affection  for 
you,"  said  Oguri. 

"Ah!"  cried  Toro,  in  delight. 

The  other  smiled,  half  paternally,  half  re- 
provingly, at  the  enthusiasm  of  youth. 

"  But  you  must  restrain  yourself  during  the 
first  half  of  your  manoeuvre,"  said  the  chief 
lieutenant;  "during  the  latter  part  you  may 
give  free  rein  to  your  impetuosity." 

As  the  first  sharp  light  of  the  September 
day  began  to  make  visible  objects  along  the 
highway,  Oguri  held  out  his  hand  to  Toro. 

"Now  go,"  he  said,  "and  remember  all  I 
have  said  to  you.  Now  is  your  opportunity." 

Toro  dashed  a  sleeve  to  his  face.  Then, 
turning  to  his  cavalry,  he  raised  his  sword  in 
command. 

"Forward!" 

Sharply  turning,  the  six  companies  wheeled 
due  east,  to  disappear  in  the  distance.  The 
main  body  advanced  for  two  hours.  Then 
Oguri  saw  that  Toro  had  reached  the  spot  set- 
tled upon  in  their  plan  of  battle. 

Mori,  leaving  the  centre,  came  briskly  up 
with  his  staff,  to  assume  the  ordering  of  the 

W"  366 


VJSTAPJA    JL 


formation.  The  infantry  were  set  out  in  two 
close  ranks.  Back  of  them,  in  the  centre,  the 
sixty  field-pieces  were  assembled,  their  horses 
tethered  close  by. 

"Scouts!"  called  Mori  to  Oguri. 

Scouts  and  skirmishers  were  thrown  out. 
All  rested  upon  their  arms. 

The  place  was  a  broad  and  level  plateau, 
through  whose  middle  the  highway  ran.  Back 
of  Mori's  artillery  rose  a  steady  height  which 
the  army  had  crossed.  Facing  the  force,  rest- 
ing upon  its  arms,  the  plateau  stretched  out 
for  a  mile  until  a  sharp  descent  came  into  view. 
Up  this  the  army  of  the  bakufu  must  climb, 
since  the  great  highway  was  also  there. 

It  was  a  time  of  idleness  for  Mori's  troops, 
until  towards  noon,  when  the  outposts  reported 
to  the  main  body  : 

"The  enemy  is  approaching." 

Mori  issued  a  number  of  orders,  the  effect 
of  which  was  instantly  seen.  The  artillery 
horses  were  attached  to  the  guns,  the  infantry 
closed  ranks.  All  stood  at  arms. 

Oguri  approached  the  Prince. 

"  Shall  I  send  the  guns  to  sweep  them  down 
before  they  can  gain  the  plateau?"  he  asked, 
in  excitement,  as  the  natural  advantages  of 
the  place  seized  upon  him. 

"  No,  let  them  reach  the  plain  and  form  in 
their  best  order.  I  wish  to  crush  them  com- 
pletely." 

Even  when  the  first  ranks  of  the  enemy  ap- 


367 


peared,  Mori  remained  inactive.  They  formed 
quickly  and  advanced.  Still  Mori  remained 
impassive. 

When  the  bakufu  troops  had  advanced  half 
of  the  mile  separating  the  two  armies,  Mori, 
turning  upon  the  little  eminence,  whispered 
in  the  ear  of  his  youngest  lieutenant.  The 
young  man  rode  off  at  full  speed  to  the  ar- 
tillery. 

A  moment  more  and  the  lines  of  infantry 
split  apart  to  allow  the  passage  of  forty  guns. 
At  full  gallop  they  rushed  towards  the  enemy, 
sending  up  great  clouds  of  dust  from  the  dry 
plain  as  they  sped  on.  Their  carriages  swayed 
from  side  to  side  without  disturbing  the  pose 
of  the  impassive  men  seated  there.  The  pos- 
tilions lashed  their  horses. 

Mori  faced  his  staff.  He  smiled  with  a 
quiet  smile. 

"Now  we  shall  see,  my  lords,  how  the  line 
holds." 

The  officers  addressed,  thinking  he  refer- 
red  to  the  cannonading,  looked  for  an  unex- 
pected fire  from  the  batteries.  None  came. 
Straight  and  true  towards  the  heart  of  the 
enemy's  lines,  the  artillery,  drawn  by  foam- 
ing horses,  rushed.  The  enemy's  lines  held. 
But  a  hundred  yards  separated  them.  It 
held  at  eighty ;  it  wavered ;  at  sixty  —  it 
broke. 

As  if  in  answer  to  his  unheard  command,  his 
flying  batteries  whirled  in  irregular  curves, 


of  WJSTAPJA 


stopped,  unlimbered,  fired,  then  with  the  speed 
of  wings  were  off  again,  this  time  in  retreat. 

Again  Mori's  infantry  lines  parted.  Out 
went  the  twenty  remaining  guns,  straight  for 
the  enemy. 

Mori's  lips  poured  out  a  stream  of  orders. 
His  staff  flew  over  the  ground.  The  whole 
army  advanced  to  support  the  artillery  at- 
tack, while  the  boomerang  batteries  were  re- 
covered. 

"  To  the  left  wing,"  cried  Mori  to  Oguri. 

Oguri  placed  himself  to  the  left  of  the  centre, 
while  Mori  took  the  right.  Still  in  one  com- 
pactly joined  front,  the  infantry  advanced. 

"  Now,  now,"  moaned  Oguri.  "  Toro — where 
is  Toro?" 

As  the  line  advanced,  the  artillery,  having 
reloaded,  bore  down  again  upon  the  enemy's 
centre,  pounding  it. 

The  infantry  neared  the  bakufu.  Mori 
despatched  an  officer  to  silence  the  batteries. 

Now  was  the  crucial  moment.  Broken  and 
scattered  like  a  herd  of  untrained  cattle  was 
the  bakufu 's  centre. 

A  cheer  sounded  in  the  enemy's  rear.  Just 
at  the  proper  moment  Toro's  cavalry  charged 
the  rear,  dashing  through  the  centre. 

Now  a  movement  of  division  took  place  in 
the  forces  of  Mori.  Oguri's  left  divided  on  the 
centre  and  swung  to  the  west,  while  Mori's 
right  swung  eastward.  The  artillery  became 
two  corps,  one  for  each  of  the  divisions;  the 

at  i-      -   &          T    — TT= 

'4  369 


TflE  .VJOQJNG  op  VflSTAPJ  A 


cavalry,  divided,  also  followed  the  direction 
of  the  two  leaders. 

Mori's  forces  had  sundered  the  centre  of  the 
bakufu  and  were  rolling  up  on  either  side, 
driving  in  two  opposite  directions  the  immense 
army  of  the  shogunate. 

As  panic  and  fear  spread  through  the  poor- 
spirited  forces  of  the  bakufu,  the  cavalry  with- 
drew to  pursue  fugitives.  Mori's  infantry  in 
its  two  divisions  was  now  sufficient  for  the 
isolating  and  destroying  of  the  two  segments 
of  the  enemy. 

At  last  it  was  done.  The  forces  of  the  sho- 
gunate were  routed  or  destroyed  at  the  first 
battle. 

With  every  mark  of  his  favor,  Mori  received 
Toro  into  his  circle  of  officers.  Toro's  face, 
black  and  grimy  from  the  smoke  of  cannon 
and  the  dust  of  action  and  the  road,  never- 
theless was  shining. 

"My  lords,"  said  Mori,  "we  are  now  at  the 
crucial  time  in  our  career.  We  must  advance 
instantly  upon  the  capital.  This  time  no  small 
force  will  be  sufficient.  The  entire  army  must 
accompany  us  to  Kioto.  Oguri,  you  take  the 
cavalry.  You  know  the  country  well.  Ride 
forward  to  Kioto  at  full  speed.  Then  throw 
out  a  long  skirmish  line  and  capture  every 
fugitive  from  the  bakufu,  that  the  news  of 
our  advance  may  not  reach  Kioto.  We  shall 
give  the  depleted  army  of  the  shogunate  now 
in  Kioto  a  noble  surprise." 

=3  I  sfc^==E ^ = 

370 


TW£  -VOOJNG  of?  VMSTAR)  A 


Mori  drew  Toro  to  him. 

"Return  thou,  Toro,  to  the  fortress.  Take 
every  available  man,  leave  only  the  company 
of  the  governor  of  the  fortress,  and  march 
speedily  to  join  me  on  the  highway/' 


I 


3 


37* 


AYS  went  by.  The  entire  force 
at  the  command  of  Mori  moved 
4  slowly  in  the  direction  of  the 
Emperor's  capital  of  Kioto.  As 
the  days  stretched  into  weeks 
and  months,  still  the  army 
moved  without  haste.  Mori  was 
now  in  communication  with 
the  other  leaders  of  his  party, 
through  runners.  All  were  con- 
centrating upon  the  capital. 

Echizen,  moreover,  had  sent 
word  to  Mori  by  special  courier. 
The  boy  Shogun  was  dead,  and 
the  young  Prince  of  Mito,  who 
had  headed  the  army  of  chas- 
tisement against  the  Imperialists 


THE -WOOJNG  of?  WJSTAPJA 


in  Kioto,  had  been  appointed  Shogun.  But 
Echizen's  tidings  of  death  did  not  stop  here. 
The  Emperor  Kommei  Tenno  had  succumbed 
to  disease  and  oppression,  and  upon  his  death, 
his  son,  3^oung  Mutsuhito,  a  youth  of  sixteen, 
had  succeeded  to  the  throne. 

When  Mori  learned  of  this  latter  event  he 
despatched  long  epistles  to  each  of  the  leaders. 
He  urged  that  all  should  concentrate  their 
forces  in  small  parties,  whose  approach  should 
be  gradual  upon  the  Imperial  palace.  Once 
having  possession  of  the  Imperial  city  and 
the  palace,  the  Aidzu-Catzu  supporters  would 
be  instantly  expelled,  and  Mutsuhito,  the  new 
Mikado,  should  be  proclaimed  sole  ruler  of 
Japan. 

To  this  all  assented.  The  3d  of  January 
was  settled  upon  as  the  day. 

Dividing  his  force  into  small  parties,  who 
were  assigned  a  rendezvous  in  Kioto,  Mori 
continued  his  advance.  Then  came  the  news 
to  him  from  Echizen  that  the  Prince  of  Mito 
(now  the  Shogun)  had  been  persuaded  to  re- 
sign his  office.  Now  there  seemed  small  ob- 
stacle in  the  way  of  the  Imperialist  plan. 

On  the  day  appointed,  the  various  relays 
of  Mori's  force  which  had  preceded  him  to 
Kioto  met  and  joined  his  personal  following. 
At  the  hour  of  noon  they  marched  in  perfect 
order  to  the  western  gate.  Each  of  the  nine 
gates  was  taken  without  force  by  a  large  body 
in  command  of  one  of  the  Imperialists. 

a: 

«*  373 


OF  NttSTARIA 


Two  hours  later  Mori,  Echizen,  Oguri,  and 
the  other  leaders  were  in  full  possession  of  the 
Mikado's  person  and  policy.  The  shogunate 
was  declared  abolished.  An  edict  was  issued 
declaring  the  Mikado  the  sole  ruler,  and  a  gov- 
ernment was  created.  Aidzu  and  Catzu  had 
been  expelled  from  the  palace. 

It  was  reported  to  Mori  that  the  ex-Shogun, 
Mito,  had  left  Kioto  in  anger,  and  that,  re- 
gretting his  resignation,  he  was  gathering 
troops  about  him  to  dispute  the  coup  d'etat. 

Wearily  Mori  assumed  command  of  some 
two  thousand  troops,  went  to  Fushimi,  where 
he  met  the  Prince  of  Mito,  with  an  army  much 
larger  than  his  own.  After  three  days'  fight- 
ing the  ex-Shogun  was  driven  back  to  Ozaka, 
whence  he  departed  for  Yedo  on  an  American 
vessel.  Mori  followed  more  slowly. 

He  was  now  embarked  upon  the  most  des- 
perate stage  of  his  undertaking.  Mito  pos- 
sessed in  his  capital,  Yedo,  forces,  ships,  and 
resources  in  great  excess  of  any  belonging 
to  the  new  government.  Nevertheless  Mori 
marched  upon  Yedo  steadily.  At  the  gates  of 
the  city  the  senior  Lord  of  Catzu  met  Mori. 

"How  now,  my  lord?"  demanded  the  Mi- 
kado's defender.  "Are  you  come  again  to 
bid  me  lay  down  my  arms?" 

"No,"  said  Catzu,  almost  humbly,  "I  am 
come  to  offer  you  the  submission  of  the  Prince 
of  Mito." 

"Ah!"    Mori  veiled  his  satisfaction. 


374 


TOE  .WOOING  op  -WJSTAPJA     n 

*Tr-  *c-  -x  it  ~u 


"Under  my  counsel,"  continued  Catzu, 
"  his  highness  the  Prince  of  Mito  has  seen  his 
error.  Never  again  will  he  take  up  arms 
against  his  sovereign  lord  the  Mikado.  I  but 
beseech  you  now  to  spare  the  city  of  Yedo." 

."My  business  here  is  done/'  was  Mori's 
reply. 

"Stay,  my  lord."  Catzu  entwined  his  fin- 
gers in  an  effort  to  conceal  a  strange  ner- 
vousness. . 

"1  await  your  words,  my  lord." 

"Thy  wife — "  began  Catzu. 

The  brain  of  the  leader  became  clouded  and 
dark  with  passion. 

"  Another  word,  my  lord,"  he  replied,  haugh- 
tily,-"and  thou  and  Yedo  shall  both  be  put 
to  the  sword.  Having  found  my  armor  in- 
vulnerable to  the  darts  of  your  spears  and 
arrows,  you  think  to  advantage  yourself  by 
an  ancient  weakness  of  mine.  Be  assured 
that  I  am  as  invincible  in  that  regard,  my  lord, 
as  in  the  matter  of  warfare." 

At  the  end  of  twelve  days  Mori  was  again 
in  Kioto.  The  surrender  of  the  late  Shogun 
had  not  carried  with  it  the  submission  of  Aid- 
zu,  who  had  fled  to  his  province.  The  Prince 
despatched  Oguri  into  the  highlands  of  Aidzu 
to  complete  the  unification  of  the  country. 
Eventually  Oguri  fulfilled  his  mission,  bring- 
ing complete  victory  to  the  Imperial  cause. 

In  the  Kioto  court  the  new  party  wrought 
speedy  change.  The  daimios,  or  territorial 

—  4:    •      ,1  *-         J a 

375 


» 


lords,  were  summoned,  and  resigned  into  the 
hands  of  the  Mikado  their  feudal  posses- 
sions. 

At  one  of  the  last  councils  attended  by  Mori, 
the  Shining  Prince  made  an  address  of  deep 
import. 

"Your  Majesty/'  he  said,  "may  not  be  in- 
sensible to  the  changes  forced  and  hastened 
in  your  country  by  the  advent  of  the  foreigner. 
I  have  been  fighting  feudalism,  the  bakufu, 
and  the  shogunate  with  the  civilization  and 
weapons  of  the  foreigners.  Through  them 
we  have  conquered  and  prevailed.  Since  we 
owe  our  supremacy  to  their  rifle  and  cannon, 
a  conviction  has  forced  itself  upon  me.  Your 
Majesty  no  longer  lives  behind  a  screen,  seen 
by  a  few  eyes  only.  Your  Majesty  is  a  world 
power,  and  must  have  relations  with  other 
nations.  We  must  assimilate  foreign  civiliza- 
tion, if  only  to  combat  the  foreigner." 

Thus  Mori  came  to  the  spirit  of  New  Japan, 
speaking  almost  the  identical  words  uttered 
by  lyesada  long  ago. 

Having  accomplished  his  share  of  the  es- 
tablishment of  the  new  government,  Mori  felt 
that  he  could  now  turn  his  attention  to  the 
welfare  of  his  faithful  followers. 

He  set  a  day  for  a  final  interview  with  them, 
when  he  should  bestow  such  rewards  as  were 
now  in  his  power,  as  chief  adviser  to  his  sov- 
ereign, to  give. 

For  himself,  an  important  cabinet  portfolio 


376 


*  NW5TAPJA 


had  been  offered,  but  he  had  come  to  no  de- 
cision. He  felt  that  his  work  was  done.  He 
desired  only  peace.  He  was  not  ready  to 
think  further. 

Realizing  that  the  lost  Jiro,  if  alive,  must 
be  in  some  portion  of  the  palace,  Mori  caused 
him  to  be  sought  for. 

On  the  evening  prior  to  his  final  meeting 
with  his  officers,  Jiro  came  to  him  as  he  sat 
alone  in  his  chamber.  The  sight  of  the  lad 
affected  the  Choshui  Prince  peculiarly.  He 
realized  in  a  moment  of  self-revelation  that  the 
feeling  of  loneliness  and  isolation  among  his 
officers  had  first  manifested  itself  just  after 
the  departure  of  Jiro.  While  his  relations 
with  the  youth  had  not  been  of  an  intimate 
nature,  still  Mori  felt  that  he  had  ever  sought 
and  found  tacitly  a  silent,  unspoken  under- 
standing and  support  of  his  purposes  from 
him.  He  felt  drawn  towards  the  boy  as  one 
great  soul  seeks  the  penetrating  sympathy 
of  another.  A  longing,  throbbing  into  wist- 
fulness,  pervaded  him.  Wearily,  yet  patient- 
ly, he  regarded  the  youth. 

"Jiro,  my  boy,  why  have  you  left  me  so 
long?"  he  said. 

The  boy  flushed  slightly  as  an  eager  delight 
betrayed  for  a  moment  his  pleasure  in  Mori's 
words. 

"Have  you,  then,  missed  me?"  he  began, 
in  a  warm  voice,  to  break  off  abruptly  as  a 
.j  forced  coldness  took  possession  of  him.  "I 

r    ^     •  •  -ar  JL  ~~$~  J          —  T 

*>  377 


TOE  .M/ooj  JSG  OF  VJJSTAPJ  A     n 

T-  -  ^r    -.     '  ^=         -%  _  r—  " 

have  been  much  engaged,  my  lord,"  he  said, 
without  enthusiasm. 

"Ahl"  said  Mori,  quietly,  noting  his  flush- 
ing face;  "and  I  am  ready  to  wager  it  was 
with  a  maiden." 

"It  was,  my  lord." 

"Ah!  —  thou,  too,  Jiro,"  said  Mori,  sadly. 
"  A  youth,  thou  hast  come  to  the  gates  of  love, 
to  enter  paradise  —  or  hell." 

"It  was  not  an  affair  of  love,  my  lord." 

"No?"' 

"I  have  been  endeavoring  to  right  the 
wrongs  of  a  woman  —  a  very  near  kinswom- 
an. But  I  find  that  I  am  without  power  to 
proceed  further." 

"  Nay,  tell  me,  Jiro,  thy  troubles,  and  those 
of  thy  kinswoman.  I  am  not  without  power 
now,  and  may  assist  thee." 

Mori  smiled  pitifully  at  thought  of  his  power 
and  the  poor  satisfaction  it  held,  now  that  its 
great  consummation  had  been  crowned. 

A  slight  nervousness  fell  upon  Jiro.  While 
his  hands  tremblingly  fingered  his  obi,  there 
came  into  his  eyes  and  his  voice  a  suggestion 
of  something  ulterior,  something  beyond. 

"  My  lord,  my  kinswoman  loved  a  man  and 
he  loved  her,"  he  said,  pausing. 

"Sad,"  murmured  Mori,  with  the  cynicism 
of  his  broken  mood. 

Without  noticing  the  Prince's  comment,  Jiro 
continued  : 

"  My  lord,  has  not  a  parent  the  right  to  ex- 


378 


THE  . 


act  obedience  from  his  child,  even  though  that 
obedience  lead  her  to  utmost  misery?" 

"Such  is  the  Japanese  idea/'  returned  Mori. 

"Then,  my  lord,  the  parent  of  my  kins- 
woman exacted  a  task  from  her.  He  forced 
her  to  betray  her  lover,  though  she,  ignorant 
that  he  was  the  person  implicated,  yet  sought 
to  warn  him  of  the  danger  to  himself  and  the 
unknown." 

Mori's  eyebrows  contracted  darkly.  He  half 
rose  from  his  seat.  Then  with  a  forced  calm 
he  dropped  back  into  his  place. 

Jiro's  face  was  now  flushed  a  deep  scarlet. 
He  seemed  to  be  using  all  his  strength  in  an 
effort  to  control  his  emotions. 

"My  lord,"  he  added,  "my  kinswoman  was 
not  only  forced  to  betray  her  lover  by  her  fa- 
ther, but  she  was  driven  further  —  into  mar- 
rying, and,  consequently,  degrading  him,  be- 
cause only  in  that  way  could  she  save  his  life 
from  the  hands  of  the  public  executioner." 

Mori  was  white  to  the  lips  with  his  anger. 
But  he  controlled  himself  strongly.  Jiro  had 
claims  upon  his  gratitude. 

"You  have  failed  to  tell  me,"  he  said,  coldly, 
"  in  what  way  I  can  serve  you  —  and  your  kins- 
woman." 

"My  lord,  the  lover  put  away  my  kins- 
woman, being  in  ignorance  of  the  treachery 
of  her  parent.  Yet  so  grievously  is  he  wound- 
ed that  he  could  not  be  approached  by  one  so 
slight  as  I.  He  would  not  listen  to  truth." 

t    Jig          j.  J  —  ..        ^E  1  r]T 

379 


THE 


Impenetrability  masked  the  face  of  Mori. 
His  thoughts  were  veiled  behind  a  set  coun- 
tenance. 

Half  abashed,  and  fully  shaken  in  his  late 
confidence,  Jiro  spoke  trembling  words. 

"  Do  you,  my  lord,  speak  to  this  lover  —  tell 
him  that  it  was  the  fault  of  their  fathers,  and 
that  his  lady,  indeed,  loves  him  and  has  al- 
ways loved  him." 

Still  silent  and  motionless  remained  Mori. 

Jiro  faltered.  "  I  have  served  thee,"  he  said, 
as  he  went  a  step  closer  to  Mori  ;  "  do  thou  this 
now  for  me." 

Mori  spoke. 

"To-morrow,"  he  said,  "I  take  farewell  of 
my  officers.  My  worldly  tasks  are  then  fin- 
ished. Then  I  will  endeavor  to  serve  you,  Jiro 
—  to-morrow." 

"  But,  my  lord,  thou  speakest  of  thy  worldly 
tasks.  Wilt  thou,  then—?" 

"  Nay,  Jiro,  I  will  not  take  my  life,  I  promise 
thee,  before  I  have  seen  thee.  To-morrow." 

"To-morrow,"  repeated  Jiro,  and  was  gone. 

Near  the  iris  field  in  the  Emperor's  garden 
there  is  a  slight  hill,  set  upon  whose  sides 
are  a  number  of  fanciful  shelters.  Under  one 
of  these,  upon  a  bench  that  night  long  sat 
Prince  Mori  Keiki.  Above  him  the  bare  trees 
supporting  the  structure  twined  their  naked 
boughs  together  into  what  in  the  leaftime  was 
a  natural  roof.  This  night,  bare  of  leaf,  they 
were  as  open  to  the  cold  as  the  structure's 


380 


THE. WOOING  O)'  WJSTAPJA     n 

•4  * a  .*  .         U- 

side,  yet  Mori  seemed  unaware  of  the  season. 
There  was  no  chill  upon  his  limbs.  A  strange 
smile  flitted  across  the  features  of  the  solitary 
Prince. 

With  a  shrug  of  the  shoulders  he  glanced  at 
the  slight  structure  under  which  he  sat. 

"It  is  a  summer-house,"  he  muttered,  "and 
it  is  now  winter.  Fitting — fitting." 

Farther  up  the  hill  above  him,  within  the 
shadow  of  another  similar  structure,  a  slight 
form  crouched,  while  burning  eyes  were  fast- 
ened upon  Mori.  With  chilled  and  shivering 
being,  the  youth  watched. 

"He  must  not  depart  this  life,"  said  the 
little  watcher  on  the  hill;  "he  must  live — 
and  believe.  Oh!  all  the  gods,  lend  me  the 
strength  and  power  to  convince  him!" 


3E- 


M0STARJA 


LONE   in   his   deserted   apart- 
ments the  Mori  sat  —  prince  no 

^  longer,  for  with  other  nobles 
and  daimios  he  had  resigned 
his  fief  into  the  Mikado's  hands. 
The  officers  had  long  ago  de- 
parted, to  enter  upon  the  new 
courses  the  parting  benefits  of 
their  leader  had  determined  for 
them.  Some  were  already  upon 

.  their  way  to  the  provinces,  the 
offices  of  Mori  had  procured  for 
them,  as  governors  appointed 
by  the  Mikado. 

Toro  had  gone  to  Catzu,  to 
govern  for  the  Mikado  the  ter- 
ritory his  father  had  adminis- 


382 


i 


£ 


tered  for  the  Shogun:  Father  and  son  had 
been  reunited.  The  Lady  Evening  Glory  had 
long  been  dead,  and  Catzu  was  without  a  mis- 
tress. 

Yet  Mori  had  detailed  for  Toro  what  he  con- 
sidered a  greater  reward. 

"Toro/'  said  Mori,  "you  will  deliver  this 
order,  signed  by  me,  in  person  to  the  Lady 
Hollyhock,  directing  her  to  cease  forthwith 
her  mutinous  rebellion,  and  to  render  herself 
as  a  conquered  province  into  thy  hands/' 

"But,  your  highness/'  said  Toro,  "I  do  not 
desire  an  unwilling  bride,  who  yields  herself 
but  to  superior  command/' 

Mori's  smile  had  within  it  the  tinge  of  a  sa- 
tirical wisdom. 

"Toro,  my  comrade  and  friend,"  he  said, 
gravely,  "I  do  assure  you  that  you  will  not 
need  that  order.  The  heart  of  the  lady  is 
yours.  Only  her  coquetry  holds  out,  and 
finding  in  my  writ  a  convenient  pretext,  she 
will  gladly  go  the  way  the  heart  has  long 
directed." 

With  exuberant  joy  Toro  had  started  from 
the  apartment. 

"  Yet,  once  again,  Toro,"  said  Mori.  "  While 
I  aid  you  with  the  Lady  Hollyhock,  I  warn 
you  that  you  will  never  find  your  complete 
happiness  in  a  woman.  After  the  first  days 
you  must  look  to  the  faithful  administration 
of  your  province  for  your  chief  satisfaction  in 
living." 

.     sL  A.          —  &  I  3T= 

383 


HE  % 


"I  do  not  agree  with  you,  your  highness," 
Toro  replied.  Then  he  added,  with  a  cheery 
laugh : 

"But  there  will  be  some  satisfaction,  truly, 
in  administering  my  province,  and  mine  an- 
cient, rebellious  sire." 

Before  the  officers  departed,  Toro,  as  their 
spokesman,  had  presented  to  their  old  com- 
mander two  swords,  richly  wrought,  the  usual 
token  of  the  samurai  as  their  parting  tribute. 

"I  do  assure  you,"  Mori  had  responded, 
"  that  in  giving  me  these  swords  you  have  not 
merely  given  me  a  reminder,  as  your  spokes- 
man has  said,  of  our  services  for  the  New 
Japan,  but  you  have  given  me  as  well  the 
conquest  of  a  newer,  higher,  more  happy 
universe.  As  a  citizen  of  a  greater  universe, 
I  thank  you." 

In  these  words,  and  in  every  act  of  the  former 
Prince  that  day,  the  officers,  save  the  delight- 
blinded  Toro,  had  observed  a  touch  of  finality, 
the  savoring  grace  of  a  farewell  to  earthly 
things,  that,  samurai  as  they  were,  had  not 
failed  to  move  them.  Plainly  their  lord  con- 
templated something  that  their  order  called 
honorable ;  yet  they  shuddered  at  the  thought. 

Now  they  were  all  gone  out  of  Mori's  life, 
into  the  new  life  he  and  they  had  created  to- 
gether. The  Shining  Prince  was  left  alone — 
alone  with  two  swords  that  lay  upon  a  low 
table  at  his  side. 

The  moment  long  waited  by  Mori  had  come. 


384 


The  Mikado  had  been  restored  to  his  ancient 
sovereignty;  peace  was  once  more  upon  the 
land.  The  great  purpose  of  his  efforts  was 
attained;  every  thread  connecting  Mori  with 
this  new  order  of  things  had  gone  from  his 
opponents — from  his  life — save  two  swords 
alone,  which  he  had  said  were  means  for  an- 
other conquest. 

Yet  in  spite  of  the  atmosphere  of  finality  that 
he  felt  pervading  his  apartments,  Mori  was  not 
thinking  of  the  termination  he  had  set  to  his 
activities.  His  thoughts  carried  him  beyond 
the  black  period  he  had  said  should  close  his 
sentence.  Over  into  regions  of  life  across 
finality  his  imagination  strayed.  The  Lady 
Wistaria  came  back  to  his  memory,  his  mind, 
his  heart — occupied  his  whole  being  with  the 
force  of  the  magic  spell  she  had  woven  about 
him. 

When  Jiro  had  made  his  plea  the  day  pre- 
vious Mori  had  instantly  recognized  its  mean- 
ing. It  came  with  no  joy  to  him.  His  course 
of  thought  and  heart  had  been  too  long  bent 
in  one  direction  for  the  timid,  blind  words  of  a 
youth  to  swing  it  abruptly. 

"It  is  one  more  device,  perchance,  of  my 
enemies,"  he  had  said,  dully,  in  the  first  bit- 
terness that  came  when  the  lad's  words  had 
touched  his  heart. 

Now,  when  all  was  over,  he  was  again,  in 
spite  of  his  will,  weighing  the  possibilities. 
Of  course  there  might  be  truth  in  what  Jiro 

:r— £    -     -JL        -    &  T^= 3 

*s  385 


WJSTAPJA 

a    -          -»•       — r- 


had  said,  but  it  could  not  be  determined  save  in 
the  eyes  of  the  Lady  Wistaria  herself,  and  now 
the  lad  Jiro  had  not  come,  as  he  had  promised. 

With  a  profound  sigh,  Mori,  raising  his  head, 
caught  sight  again  of  the  two  swords.  Yes, 
they  held  their  meaning  for  him.  Jiro's  words 
were  not  worthy  of  belief.  He  stretched  out 
his  hands  to  the  swords. 

"  She  was  false — and  Jiro  lied ! "  he  muttered. 

His  hand  sought  and  found  the  hilt  of  one 
of  the  swords  and  grasped  it  firmly,  stiffened, 
and  fell  to  his  side.  Suddenly  the  face  of  the 
Lady  Wistaria  with  its  all  -  pervading  purity 
and  truth-compelling  quality  arose  before  his 
vision.  As  he  regarded  the  unsought  vision 
which  had  come  to  his  uncontrolled  imagina- 
tion, it  dawned  upon  him  with  a  sudden,  great 
light  that  he  had  been  wrong — wrong.  Back 
to  his  consciousness  floated  that  dark  night 
by  the  side  of  the  stagnant  moat,  the  memory 
of  the  tortured  white  face  that  shone  out  from 
the  interlacing  boughs  of  bushes  about  them, 
the  trembling  hands  and  the  little  water-soak- 
ed feet.  Were  she  utterly  false  as  he  had 
thought,  would  she  have  thus  come  to  him  to 
warn  him  of  the  danger  that  encompassed  the 
one  she  did  not  know  was  he  himself?  fl 

^  A  great  upheaval  arose  in  Keiki.  The  rush 
of  emotions  ingulfed  him.  A  cry,  a  groan, 
escaped  him,  as,  burying  his  face  in  his  arms, 
he  threw  from  him  the  swords. 

"She  was  truth  itself,"  he  said.     "It  is  I 

=ZJC=        JU  &-  T=3C= 

386 


NWSTARJA 


who  have  wronged  her — I  who  have  been  un- 
worthy." 

"Too  late!"  a  voice  within  his  world-dulled 
soul  said.  He  recalled  now  the  intelligence  he 
had  heard  somewhere  many  months  before. 
The  Princess  of  Mori  had  become  a  priestess 
of  the  Temple  Zuiganji. 

"My  lord!" 

The  voice  behind  him,  vaguely  familiar, 
passed  into  that  of  the  boy  Jiro. 

"My  lord,"  repeated  the  soft  voice,  "it  is  I, 
Jiro,  returned  to  thee." 

Mori  answered : 

"Alas,  you  come  too  late,  my  Jiro.  Thou 
canst  tell  me  nothing  now,  for  I  know  that  she 
was  guiltless.  I  was  at  fault.  The  gods  alone 
can  forgive  me." 

Again  he  bent  over  the  swords.  The  figure 
behind  him  moved  from  its  position.  It  stood 
before  the  bending  Prince  now.  A  white  robe 
reached  to  the  floor,  brushing  his  hand  and 
covering  the  swords  at  his  feet.  Impelled  by 
a  force  he  could  not  resist,  Mori  raised  his  head. 
Wistaria — Wistaria  in  her  bridal  robes,  with 
white  flowers  in  her  glorious  hair,  stood  before 
him. 

Mori  started  to  his  feet. 

"Jiro- Jiro-' 

He  looked  about  the  room,  as  though  he 
still  thought  the  boy  within  the  apartment. 
Was  he  dreaming,  or  had  he  actually  heard 
the  voice  of  the  boy  Jiro,  saying: 


4 


387 


THE.WOOMNO  of  VB3TARJA 

"It  is  I,  Jiro,  returned  to  thee." 

But  where  was  Jiro,  and  who  was  this  white 
being  who  had  taken  his  place?  Not  the 
Lady  Wistaria,  she  who  had  become  a  priest- 
ess because  of  her  wrongs.  Then  her  lips 
framed  themselves  in  words  that  reached  his 
consciousness. 

"If  it  please  thee,  my  lord,  I  am  Jiro." 

"Lady  Wistaria!"  he  gasped. 

"I  am  Wistaria,"  she  said. 

Slowly,  with  the  movement  of  one  dazed, 
Mori  moved  towards  her.  Her  exquisite  hands 
she  held  out  to  him.  He  seized  them  with 
his  own.  For  a  moment  he  held  them  in  a 
close,  spasmodic  clasp,  then  suddenly  he  sank 
to  the  floor,  burying  his  face  in  the  folds  of  her 
kimono. 

But  the  Lady  Wistaria  was  upon  her  knees 
beside  him,  her  hands  upon  his  head. 


THE  END 


I3E-  -"I-  *r- — as, 

388 


University  of  California 

SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACILITY 

405  Hilgard  Avenue,  Los  Angeles,  CA  90024-1388 

Return  this  material  to  the  library 

from  which  it  was  borrowed. 


OCT06  199? 
REC'DLD-URl 


L9-Series  444 


A    000  038  391     9 


